Docker Desktop for Windows
Docker Desktop for Windows is a native Windows application that enables developers to build, run, and manage Docker containers on Windows operating systems. It provides a seamless integration with Windows features like Hyper-V or WSL 2 (Windows Subsystem for Linux) to run Linux containers, and it supports Windows containers natively. The tool includes Docker Engine, Docker CLI, Docker Compose, and a graphical user interface for managing containers and images.
Developers should use Docker Desktop for Windows when developing or deploying containerized applications on Windows environments, such as for Windows-specific applications, mixed Windows/Linux microservices, or when working in a Windows-based development team. It is essential for ensuring consistent environments across development, testing, and production on Windows systems, and it simplifies container management with built-in tools like Kubernetes support and volume mounting.