---
description: High-level overview of the Registry
keywords: registry, on-prem, images, tags, repository, distribution
title: Docker Registry
---

## What it is

The Registry is a stateless, highly scalable server side application that stores
and lets you distribute Docker images. The Registry is open-source, under the
permissive [Apache license](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apache_License).

## Why use it

You should use the Registry if you want to:

 * tightly control where your images are being stored
 * fully own your images distribution pipeline
 * integrate image storage and distribution tightly into your in-house development workflow

## Alternatives

Users looking for a zero maintenance, ready-to-go solution are encouraged to
head-over to the [Docker Hub](https://hub.docker.com), which provides a
free-to-use, hosted Registry, plus additional features (organization accounts,
automated builds, and more).

## Requirements

The Registry is compatible with Docker engine **version 1.6.0 or higher**.

## Basic commands

Start your registry

```sh
docker run -d -p 5000:5000 --name registry registry:2
```

Pull (or build) some image from the hub

```sh
docker pull ubuntu
```

Tag the image so that it points to your registry

```sh
docker image tag ubuntu localhost:5000/myfirstimage
```

Push it

```sh
docker push localhost:5000/myfirstimage
```

Pull it back

```sh
docker pull localhost:5000/myfirstimage
```

Now stop your registry and remove all data

```sh
docker container stop registry && docker container rm -v registry
```

## Next

You should now read the [detailed introduction about the registry](about),
or jump directly to [deployment instructions](about/deploying).