docs/content/packages/learn-github-packages/introduction-to-github-packages.md

title, intro, product, redirect_from, versions, shortTitle

title	intro	product	redirect_from	versions	shortTitle
Introduction to GitHub Packages	{% data variables.product.prodname_registry %} is a software package hosting service that allows you to host your software packages privately {% ifversion ghae %} for specified users or internally for your enterprise{% else %}or publicly{% endif %} and use packages as dependencies in your projects.	{% data reusables.gated-features.packages %}	/articles/about-github-package-registry /github/managing-packages-with-github-package-registry/about-github-package-registry /github/managing-packages-with-github-packages/about-github-packages /packages/publishing-and-managing-packages/about-github-packages /packages/learn-github-packages/about-github-packages /packages/learn-github-packages/core-concepts-for-github-packages /packages/guides/about-github-container-registry	fpt ghes ghae ghec * * * *	Introduction

{% data reusables.package_registry.packages-ghes-release-stage %} {% data reusables.package_registry.packages-ghae-release-stage %}

About {% data variables.product.prodname_registry %}

{% data variables.product.prodname_registry %} is a platform for hosting and managing packages, including containers and other dependencies. {% data variables.product.prodname_registry %} combines your source code and packages in one place to provide integrated permissions management{% ifversion fpt or ghec %} and billing{% endif %}, so you can centralize your software development on {% data variables.product.product_name %}.

You can integrate {% data variables.product.prodname_registry %} with {% ifversion fpt or ghec %}{% data variables.product.prodname_dotcom %}{% else %}{% data variables.product.product_name %}{% endif %} APIs, {% data variables.product.prodname_actions %}, and webhooks to create an end-to-end DevOps workflow that includes your code, CI, and deployment solutions.

{% data variables.product.prodname_registry %} offers different package registries for commonly used package managers, such as npm, RubyGems, Apache Maven, Gradle, Docker, and NuGet. {% ifversion fpt or ghec %}{% data variables.product.prodname_dotcom %}'s {% data variables.product.prodname_container_registry %} is optimized for containers and supports Docker and OCI images.{% endif %} For more information on the different package registries that {% data variables.product.prodname_registry %} supports, see "AUTOTITLE."

You can view a package's README, as well as metadata such as licensing, download statistics, version history, and more on {% data variables.product.product_name %}. For more information, see "AUTOTITLE."

{% ifversion ghes %}

For more information about the configuration of {% data variables.product.prodname_registry %} on {% data variables.product.product_name %}, see "AUTOTITLE."

{% endif %}

Overview of package permissions

{% ifversion packages-registries-v2 %}

The permissions for a package are either inherited from the repository where the package is hosted, or can be defined for specific users or organizations. Some registries only support permissions inherited from a repository. For a list of these registries, see "AUTOTITLE." For more information on package access, see "AUTOTITLE."

{% else %}

Each package inherits the permissions of the repository where the package is hosted.

For example, anyone with read permissions for a repository can install a package as a dependency in a project, and anyone with write permissions can publish a new package version.

{% endif %}

Overview of package visibility

{% data reusables.package_registry.public-or-private-packages %}

{% ifversion fpt or ghec %}

About billing for {% data variables.product.prodname_registry %}

{% data reusables.package_registry.packages-billing %} {% data reusables.package_registry.packages-spending-limit-brief %} For more information, see "AUTOTITLE."

{% endif %}

Supported clients and formats

{% data variables.product.prodname_registry %} uses the native package tooling commands you're already familiar with to publish and install package versions.

Support for package registries

Language	Description	Package format	Package client
JavaScript	Node package manager	package.json	npm
Ruby	RubyGems package manager	Gemfile	gem
Java	Apache Maven project management and comprehension tool	pom.xml	mvn
Java	Gradle build automation tool for Java	build.gradle or build.gradle.kts	gradle
.NET	NuGet package management for .NET	nupkg	dotnet CLI
N/A	Docker container management	Dockerfile	Docker

{% ifversion ghes %} {% note %}

Note: When enabling the Docker registry, we highly recommend also enabling subdomain isolation. For more information, see "AUTOTITLE."

{% endnote %}

{% endif %}

For more information about configuring your package client for use with {% data variables.product.prodname_registry %}, see "AUTOTITLE."

{% ifversion fpt or ghec %} For more information about Docker and the {% data variables.product.prodname_container_registry %}, see "AUTOTITLE." {% endif %}

Authenticating to {% data variables.product.prodname_registry %}

{% data reusables.package_registry.authenticate-packages %}

{% data reusables.package_registry.authenticate-packages-github-token %}

Managing packages

You can delete a package in the {% data variables.product.product_name %} user interface{% ifversion packages-rest-api %} or using the REST API. For more information, see "AUTOTITLE" and the "AUTOTITLE."{% else %}.{% endif %} {% data reusables.package_registry.about-graphql-support %}

When you use the GraphQL API to query and delete private packages, you must use the same {% data variables.product.pat_v1 %} you use to authenticate to {% data variables.product.prodname_registry %}.

For more information, see {% ifversion ghes or ghae %}"AUTOTITLE" and {% endif %}"AUTOTITLE."

You can configure webhooks to subscribe to package-related events, such as when a package is published or updated. For more information, see the "AUTOTITLE."

Contacting support

{% ifversion fpt or ghec %} If you have feedback or feature requests for {% data variables.product.prodname_registry %}, use a {% data variables.product.prodname_github_community %} discussion.

Contact {% data variables.contact.github_support %} about {% data variables.product.prodname_registry %} using our contact form if:

• You experience anything that contradicts the documentation
• You encounter vague or unclear errors
• Your published package contains sensitive data, such as GDPR violations, API Keys, or personally identifying information

{% else %} If you need support for {% data variables.product.prodname_registry %}, please contact your site administrators.

{% endif %}