Suggest an editImprove this articleRefine the answer for “What is an image?”. Your changes go to moderation before they’re published.Approval requiredContentWhat you’re changing🇺🇸EN🇺🇦UAPreviewTitle (EN)Short answer (EN)An **image** is a template, a "snapshot" of a future container, storing everything needed to run an application: files, dependencies, configurations, library versions, and build instructions. **Key point:** an image is the template Docker uses to create a container.Shown above the full answer for quick recall.Answer (EN)ImageAn image is a template, a "snapshot" of a future container. It stores everything needed to run an application: files, dependencies, configurations, library versions, build instructions. Characteristics of an image: 1. **Immutable** - an image cannot be changed "on the fly"; it can only be rebuilt. 2. **Layered** - it consists of layers, which makes building and storage fast and economical. 3. **Container template** - any number of containers can be started from one image. 4. **Portable** - it works the same on any machine that has Docker. In one line: **an image is the template Docker uses to create a container.**For the reviewerNote to the moderator (optional)Visible only to the moderator. Helps review go faster.