How is a public registry different from a private one?
The difference is in access and purpose:
Public registry
- images are available to everyone without authorization
- anyone can download (
pull) an image - suited for general, official, or open-source images
- example: Docker Hub (public images)
Private registry
- access is restricted, a login/password or token is required
- only the owner, team, or company can see the images
- used for internal services and production
- example: Docker Hub private repo, GitLab Registry, ECR, GCR
In short
| Type | Access | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Public | everyone | downloading ready-made images |
| Private | by access | storing internal images |
Summary: a public registry is for open distribution of images, a private one is for closed corporate or personal images that need access control.
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