--- description: Learn how to use Docker Compose to define and run multi-container applications with this detailed introduction to the tool. keywords: docker compose, docker-compose, docker compose command, docker compose files, docker compose documentation, using docker compose, compose container, docker compose service title: Overview of Docker Compose redirect_from: - /compose/cli-command/ - /compose/networking/swarm/ - /compose/overview/ - /compose/swarm/ - /compose/completion/ --- {% include compose-eol.md %} Compose is a tool for defining and running multi-container Docker applications. With Compose, you use a YAML file to configure your application's services. Then, with a single command, you create and start all the services from your configuration. Compose works in all environments; production, staging, development, testing, as well as CI workflows. It also has commands for managing the whole lifecycle of your application: * Start, stop, and rebuild services * View the status of running services * Stream the log output of running services * Run a one-off command on a service The key features of Compose that make it effective are: * [Have multiple isolated environments on a single host](features-uses.md#have-multiple-isolated-environments-on-a-single-host) * [Preserve volume data when containers are created](features-uses.md#preserves-volume-data-when-containers-are-created) * [Only recreate containers that have changed](features-uses.md#only-recreate-containers-that-have-changed) * [Support variables and moving a composition between environments](features-uses.md#supports-variables-and-moving-a-composition-between-environments)
Follow the instructions on how to install Docker Compose.
Learn the key concepts of Docker Compose whilst building a simple Python web application.
Find out about the latest enhancements and bug fixes.
Understand its key features and explore common use cases.
Find information on defining services, networks, and volumes for a Docker application.
Explore general FAQs and find out how to give feedback.