What is Docker Hub ?

Docker is a public cloud registry that helps with storing and managing of images of images. It also supports in sharing the images to respective specified environments. It seamless integration features with tools like Github, Jenkins enhances the workflow through automation and security features. It simplifies the continuous deployment and testing making it a crucial tool in modern software development.

In this Article, we will dicuss more the scratch from what is dockerhub, making you clear understanding why to use dockerhub, its advantages, disadvantages. we also guides you in discussing the push and pull operations of images on Dockerhub and much more aspects…

What is Docker ?

Docker is an open source container management software, it helps in managing the container life cycle such as creating, running, stopping, creating networks, volumes. It facilitates the developers to package their logical code with all its dependencies into a single executable bundle (Docker Image). Once the image has built, we can deploy it on any machine that supports docker acting as independent of the underlying OS.

What is Dockerhub ?

Docker Hub is a repository service and it is a cloud-based service where people push their Docker Container Images and also pull the Docker Container Images from the Docker Hub anytime or anywhere via the internet. It provides features such as you can push your images as private or public.

Mainly DevOps team uses the Docker Hub. It is an open-source tool and freely available for all operating systems. It is like storage where we store the images and pull the images when it is required. When a person wants to push/pull images from the Docker Hub they must have a basic knowledge of Docker. Let us discuss the requirements of the Docker tool.

Docker is a tool nowadays enterprises adopting rapidly day by day. When a Developer team wants to share the project with all dependencies for testing then the developer can push their code on Docker Hub with all dependencies. Firstly create the Images and push the Image on Docker Hub. After that, the testing team will pull the same image from the Docker Hub eliminating the need for any type of file, software, or plugins for running the Image because the Developer team shares the image with all dependencies.

To deepen your understanding of Docker Hub and containerization practices, check out the DevOps Live Course, which covers Docker, Docker Hub, and advanced container management techniques.

Why Should I use Docker hub ?

The following are some of the main aspects for using Dockerhub:

• Efficient Image Management: Docker Hub simplifies the storage, management, and sharing of Docker images, making it easy to organize and access container images from anywhere.

• Enhanced Security: It runs security checks on images and provides detailed reports on potential vulnerabilities, ensuring safer deployments.

• Automation Capabilities: With features like webhooks, Docker Hub can automate continuous deployment and testing processes, streamlining your CI/CD pipeline.

• Integration and Collaboration: Docker Hub integrates seamlessly with popular tools like GitHub and Jenkins, and allows managing permissions for users and teams, facilitating efficient collaboration.

How to Use Dockerhub and Create Repository ? A Step-By-Step Guide

The following steps guide you in creating a first repository in Dockerhub using GUI:

Step 1:

Firstly navigate to the Dockerhub and sign in with your credentials and then select Create Repository.

Step 2:

After that, we will be taken to a screen for configuring the repository, where we must choose the namespace, repository name, and optional description.

• In the visibility area, as indicated in the picture, there are two options: Public and Private. We can choose any of them depending on the type of organization you are in.

• If you chose Public, everyone will be able to push-pull and use the image because it will be accessible to everyone. If you select the private option, only those with access to that image can view and utilize it.

Step 3:

At finally repository is created with the help of the Docker Commands we can push or pull the image.

The following command is used for pushing the docker image that exists in local to the Dockerhub.

docker push <your-username>/my-testprivate-repo>.

How To Push Docker Images to Docker Hub ?

The push command as the name suggests itself is used to pushing a docker image onto the docker hub. Try to Follow this example to get an idea of the push command:

Step 1:

Open Docker in your system.

Locate the Images that you want to push using the below command:

docker images

The above command will list all the images on your system.

Step 2:

Go to the browser and search hub.docker.com.

Step 3:

Sign up on the docker hub if you do not have a docker hub account, after login on to docker hub.

Step 4:

Back to the docker terminal and execute the below command:

docker login

Step 5:

Then give your credential and type in your docker hub username or password.

• username

• password

Step 6:

After that hit the Enter key you will see login success on your screen.

Step 7:

Then type the tag images name, docker hub username, and give the name it appears on the docker hub using the below command:

docker tag geeksforgeek mdahtisham/geeksimage
      geeksforgeek - Image name
      mdahtisham - Docker hub username
      geeksimage - With this name Image will appear on the docker hub

Step 8:

Now push your image using the below command:

docker push mdahtisham/geeksimage

Note

Below you can see the Docker Image successfully pushed on the docker hub: mdahtisham/geeksimage

How To Pull Docker Images from Docker Hub ?

The pull command is used to get an image from the Docker Hub to the local docker environment. Follow this example to get an overview of the pull command in Docker:

Step 1:

Now you can search the image using the below command in docker as follows:

docker search imagename

• One can see all images on your screen if available images with this name.One can also pull the images if one knows the exact name

Step 2:

Now pull the image see the below command.

docker pull mdahtisham/geeksimage
   mdahtisham - Docker Hub username
   geeksimage - With this name Image will appear on the docker hub

Step 3:

Now check for the pulled image in the local docker environment using the below command:

docker images

Difference between Github and Dockerhub

The following are the difference between github and dockerhub:

Feature	GitHub	Docker Hub
Primary Purpose	Code Repository and Version Control	Docker Image Repository and Management
Content	Source Code, Documentation	Docker Container Images
Integration	Works with CI/CD tools like Jenkins, Travis CI	Integrates with CI/CD tools and Docker itself
Visibility	Public and Private Repositories	Public and Private Repositories
Security	Code scanning and vulnerability alerts	Image security scans and vulnerability reports

Difference between Dockerhub and Docker Registry

The following are the differences between Dockerhub and Docker Registry:

Feature	Docker Hub	Docker Registry
Service Type	Cloud-based repository service	Self-hosted registry service
Accessibility	Public and private image repositories	Primarily private, customizable
Integration	Integrates with GitHub, Jenkins, and more	Can be integrated with various CI/CD tools
Security	Built-in security scans and vulnerability reports	Security depends on implementation
Automation	Supports webhooks for CI/CD automation	Requires manual setup for automation

Features of Docker Hub

The following are the features of dockerhub:

• Storage, management, and sharing of images with others are made simple via Docker Hub.

• Docker Hub runs the necessary security checks on our images and generates a full report on any security flaws.

• Docker Hub can automate the processes like Continuous deployment and Continuous testing by triggering the Webhooks when the new image is pushed into Docker Hub.

• With the help of Docker Hub, we can manage the permission for the users, teams, and organizations.

• We can integrate Docker Hub into our tools like GitHub, Jenkins which makes workflows easy

Advantages of Docker Hub

The following are the advantages of Docker hub:

• Docker Container Images are light in weight.

• We can push the images within a minute and with help of a command.

• It is a secure method and also provides a feature like pushing the private image or public image.

• Docker hub plays a very important role in industries as it becomes more popular day by day and it acts as a bridge between the developer team and the testing team.

• If a person wants to share their code, software any type of file for public use, you can just make the images public on the docker hub.