+++
title = "Understand images & containers"
description = "Getting started with Docker"
keywords = ["beginner, getting started, Docker"]
[menu.windows]
identifier = "windows_understand"
weight = 2
+++

Learn about images & containers

As the last step in your installation, you ran the docker run hello-world command. With this one command, you completed the core tasks to using Docker. The command you ran had three parts.

{{< figure src="/tutimg/container_explainer.png" >}}

A container is a stripped-to-basics version of a Linux operating system. An image is software you load into a container. When you ran the command, the Docker software:

• checked to see if you had the hello-world software image
• downloaded the image from the Docker Hub (more about the hub later)
• loaded the image into the container and "ran" it

Depending on how it was built, an image might run a simple, single command and then exit. This is what Hello-World did.

A Docker image, though, is capable of much more. An image can start software as complex as a database, wait for you (or someone else) to add data, store the data for later use, and then wait for the next person.

Who built the hello-world software image though? In this case, Docker did but anyone can. Docker lets people (or companies) create and share software through Docker images. Using Docker, you don't have to worry about whether your computer can run the software in a Docker image — a Docker container can always run it.

Where to go next

See, that was quick wasn't it? Now, you are ready to do some really fun stuff with Docker.
Go on to the next part to find and run the whalesay image.