| title | Reference documentation |
|---|---|
| notoc | true |
This section includes the reference documentation for the Docker platform's various APIs, CLIs, and file formats.
| File format | Description |
|---|---|
| Dockerfile | Defines the contents and startup behavior of a single container |
| Compose file | Defines a multi-container application |
| Docker Cloud Stack file | Defines a multi-container application for Docker Cloud |
| CLI | Description |
|---|---|
| Engine CLI | The main CLI for Docker, includes all docker and dockerd commands |
| Compose CLI | The CLI for Docker Compose, which allows you to build and run multi-container applications |
| Machine CLI | Manages virtual machines that are pre-configured to run Docker |
| [UCP CLI](/datacenter/ucp/{{ site.ucp_version }}/reference/cli/index.md) | Deploy and manage Universal Control Plane |
| [DTR CLI](/datacenter/dtr/{{ site.dtr_version }}/reference/cli/index.md) | Deploy and manage Docker Trusted Registry |
| API | Description |
|---|---|
| Cloud API | Enables programmatic management of your Docker application running on a cloud provider |
| Engine API | The main API for Docker, provides programmatic access to a daemon |
| Registry API | Facilitates distribution of images to the engine |
| Trusted Registry API | Provides programmatic access to a trusted registry |
| UCP API | Provides programmatic access to a Universal Control Plane instance |
| Driver | Description |
|---|---|
| Image specification | Describes the various components of a Docker image |
| Machine drivers | Enables support for given cloud providers when provisioning resources with Machine |
| Registry token authentication | Outlines the Docker registry authentication scheme |
| Registry storage drivers | Enables support for given cloud providers when storing images with Registry |
| Reference | Description |
|---|---|
| NIST 800-53 control reference | All of the NIST 800-53 Rev. 4 controls applicable to Docker Enterprise Edition can be referenced in this section. |