---
aliases:
- /registry/overview/
description: High-level overview of the Registry
keywords: registry, on-prem, images, tags, repository, distribution
menu:
  main:
    parent: smn_registry
    weight: 1
title: Registry Overview
---

# 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](http://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).

Users looking for a commercially supported version of the Registry should look into [Docker Trusted Registry](/docker-trusted-registry/overview/).

## Requirements

The Registry is compatible with Docker engine **version 1.6.0 or higher**.
If you really need to work with older Docker versions, you should look into the [old python registry](https://github.com/docker/docker-registry).

## TL;DR

Start your registry

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

Pull (or build) some image from the hub

    docker pull ubuntu

Tag the image so that it points to your registry

    docker tag ubuntu localhost:5000/myfirstimage

Push it

    docker push localhost:5000/myfirstimage

Pull it back

    docker pull localhost:5000/myfirstimage

Now stop your registry and remove all data

    docker stop registry && docker rm -v registry

## Next

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