Where Are Docker Images and Containers Stored on the Host
The Difference Between Images and Containers
Images are what you create when you run docker build; they’re stored in a container registry like the Docker Hub, and contain all the files and code to run an app. You can think of them like ISO files for a virtual machine operating system.
Containers are created from images, and they’re like the actual virtual machine that runs the application. You might have multiple containers running in parallel off the same image. Each container will have its own file system, optionally created with “volume mounts” that bind data from the host to the container.
Images stored locally
- Linux:
/var/lib/docker/ - Windows:
C:\ProgramData\DockerDesktop - macOS:
~/Library/Containers/com.docker.docker/Data/vms/0/