What does the term 'image registry' refer to in Docker?

The term 'image registry' in Docker refers to a collection of repositories for Docker images. This is a centralized place where all the Docker images can be stored, managed, and shared. Users can push their own images to the registry and pull images from it as needed. This functionality supports versioning of images, allowing users to keep track of different versions of their applications and ensuring that images can be reused across different environments and teams.

An image registry serves as the backbone for container deployment, facilitating continuous integration and delivery practices by making it easy to propagate application images through various stages of development and production. It plays a critical role in enabling collaboration and best practices in container management.