distribution/docs/glossary.md

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Glossary

This page contains definitions for distribution related terms.

Blob

A blob is any kind of content that is stored by a Registry under a content-addressable identifier (a "digest").

Layers are a good example of "blobs".

<dt id="image"><h4>Image</h4></dt>
<dd>
  <blockquote>An image is a named set of immutable data from which a Docker container can be created.</blockquote>
  <p>
  An image is represented by a json file called a <a href="#manifest">manifest</a>, and is conceptually a set of <a href="#layer">layers</a>.

  Image names indicate the location where they can be pulled from and pushed to, as they usually start with a <a href="#registry">registry</a> domain name and port.

  </p>
</dd>

<dt id="layer"><h4>Layer</h4></dt>
<dd>
<blockquote>A layer is a tar archive bundling partial content from a filesystem.</blockquote>
<p>
Layers from an <a href="#image">image</a> are usually extracted in order on top of each other to make up a root filesystem from which containers run out.
</p>
</dd>

<dt id="manifest"><h4>Manifest</h4></dt>
<dd><blockquote>A manifest is the JSON representation of an image.</blockquote></dd>

<dt id="namespace"><h4>Namespace</h4></dt>
<dd><blockquote>A namespace is a collection of repositories with a common name prefix.</blockquote>
<p>
The namespace with an empty prefix is considered the Global Namespace.
</p>
</dd>

<dt id="registry"><h4>Registry</h4></dt>
<dd><blockquote>A registry is a service that let you store and deliver <a href="#images">images</a>.</blockquote>
</dd>

<dt id="registry"><h4>Repository</h4></dt>
<dd>
<blockquote>A repository is a set of data containing all versions of a given image.</blockquote>
</dd>

<dt id="scope"><h4>Scope</h4></dt>
<dd><blockquote>A scope is the portion of a namespace onto which a given authorization token is granted.</blockquote></dd>

<dt id="tag"><h4>Tag</h4></dt>
<dd><blockquote>A tag is conceptually a "version" of a <a href="#image">named image</a>.</blockquote>
<p>
Example: `docker pull myimage:latest` instructs docker to pull the image "myimage" in version "latest".
</p>

</dd>