The Compose application model

Use a YAML Compose file (compose.yaml) to configure your application's services, then create and start them with the Compose CLI; the file follows the Compose Specification for defining multi-container applications and is the Docker Compose implementation of that formal specification. Computing components are defined as services, implemented by running the same container image and configuration one or more times. Services communicate through networks, which establish an IP route between connected containers, and store persistent data in volumes, high-level filesystem mounts with global options. Configs cover runtime-dependent data and secrets sensitive data, both mounted as files. A project is an individual deployment; its name, set with the top-level name attribute, groups and isolates resources, which must be prefixed by the project and labeled com.docker.compose.project. Scope: Docker Compose. Reviewed October 4, 2026.