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This section includes the reference documentation for the Docker platform's various APIs, CLIs, drivers and specifications, and file formats.

File formats

Dockerfile\ \ Defines the contents and startup behavior of a single container.

Compose file\ \ Defines a multi-container application.

Command-line interfaces (CLIs)

Docker CLI\ \ The main Docker CLI, includes all docker commands.

Compose CLI\ \ The CLI for Docker Compose, for building and running multi-container applications.

Daemon CLI (dockerd)\ \ Persistent process that manages containers.

Application programming interfaces (APIs)

Engine API\ \ The main API for Docker, provides programmatic access to a daemon.

Docker Hub API\ \ API to interact with Docker Hub.

DVP Data API\ \ API for Docker Verified Publishers to fetch analytics data.

Registry API\ \ API for Docker Registry.