In container terminology, what does the term 'repository' refer to?

In the context of container terminology, the term 'repository' refers specifically to a collection of images. A repository is a central location where Docker images are stored and managed. When developers create container images, they often push those images to a repository, which allows for easy sharing, versioning, and organization.

Repositories can hold multiple versions of an image, making it easy to manage different configurations and updates related to a specific application or service. This is particularly important in a DevOps environment, where multiple teams may collaborate and rely on consistent image availability for deployment.

The concept of a repository encompasses not just the raw images themselves, but also associated metadata that helps in version control and access management. It essentially serves as a library of container images, facilitating the efficient deployment of applications across different environments.

Other terms mentioned, such as variable metadata or runtime instances, refer to different aspects of containerization but do not capture the comprehensive nature of a repository in this context. A repository is fundamentally about the collection and management of images rather than just metadata or active instances of those images.