How is the distribution of Docker images carried out in development and production environments?

Distribution of Docker images in development and production environments usually occurs through a Docker Registry — a centralized storage for images.

Main steps:

1. Build the image: the developer or CI/CD system creates a Docker image locally using a Dockerfile.
2. Tag the image: a tag is assigned to the image, often including the version and Registry address.
3. Publish (push): the image is uploaded to a Docker Registry (e.g., Docker Hub, GitLab Container Registry, private Registry).
4. Download (pull): images are downloaded from the Registry to target servers or development environments.
5. Run containers: containers are launched based on the downloaded images.

This approach ensures environment consistency and simplifies deployment, allowing for quick updates and maintaining coherence between development and production.