docs/content/packages/learn-github-packages/about-github-packages.md

---
title: About GitHub Packages
intro: '{% data variables.product.prodname_registry %} is a software package hosting service that allows you to host your software packages privately {% if currentVersion == "github-ae@latest" %} for specified users or internally for your enterprise{% else %}or publicly{% endif %} and use packages as dependencies in your projects.'
product: '{% data reusables.gated-features.packages %}'
redirect_from:
  - /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
versions:
  free-pro-team: '*'
  enterprise-server: '>=2.22'
  github-ae: '*'
---

{% 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{% if currentVersion != "github-ae@latest" %} 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 {% data variables.product.product_name %} 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 packages, such as for Node, RubyGems, Apache Maven, Gradle, and Nuget.

<!--This diagram excludes ghcr.io since it's not released for GHES yet.-->
{% if currentVersion ver_gt "enterprise-server@2.21" %}

![Diagram showing the GitHub Packages hosting urls for npm, RubyGems, Apache Maven, Gradle, Nuget, and Docker](/assets/images/help/package-registry/ghes-packages-diagram.png)

{% endif %}

{% if currentVersion == "free-pro-team@latest" %}
{% data variables.product.prodname_registry %} also offers a {% data variables.product.prodname_container_registry %} designed to support the unique needs of container images. For more information, see "[About {% data variables.product.prodname_github_container_registry %}](/packages/guides/about-github-container-registry)."

{% data reusables.package_registry.container-registry-beta %}

![Diagram showing the GitHub Packages hosting urls for npm, RubyGems, Apache Maven, Gradle, Nuget, and Docker](/assets/images/help/package-registry/packages-overview-diagram.png)

{% endif %}

#### Viewing packages

You can review the package's README, some metadata like licensing, download statistics, version history, and more on {% data variables.product.product_name %}. For more information, see "[Viewing packages](/packages/manage-packages/viewing-packages)."

#### About package permissions and visibility

|  | Package registries |
|----|----|
| Hosting locations  | You can host multiple packages in one repository.  |
| Permissions  | Each package inherits the permissions of the repository where the package is hosted. <br> <br> 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. |
| Visibility | {% data reusables.package_registry.public-or-private-packages %} |

{% if currentVersion == "free-pro-team@latest" %}
### 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 "[About billing for {% data variables.product.prodname_registry %}](/github/setting-up-and-managing-billing-and-payments-on-github/about-billing-for-github-packages)."

{% data reusables.package_registry.container-registry-beta-billing-note %}
{% 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` |

{% if currentVersion ver_gt "enterprise-server@2.22" %}
{% note %}

**Note:** Docker is not supported when subdomain isolation is disabled.

{% endnote %}

For more information about subdomain isolation, see "[Enabling subdomain isolation](/enterprise/admin/configuration/enabling-subdomain-isolation)."

{% endif %}

For more information about configuring your package client for use with {% data variables.product.prodname_registry %}, see "[Package client guides for {% data variables.product.prodname_registry %}](/packages/guides/package-client-guides-for-github-packages)."

{% if currentVersion == "free-pro-team@latest" %}
For more information about Docker and {% data variables.product.prodname_github_container_registry %}, see "[Container guides for {% data variables.product.prodname_registry %}](/packages/guides/container-guides-for-github-packages)."
{% endif %}
### Authenticating to {% data variables.product.prodname_registry %}

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

### About scopes and permissions for package registries

To use or manage a package hosted by a package registry, you must use a token with the appropriate scope, and your user account must have appropriate permissions for that repository.

For example:
-  To download and install packages from a repository, your token must have the `read:packages` scope, and your user account must have read permissions for the repository.
- {% if currentVersion == "free-pro-team@latest" or if currentVersion ver_gt "enterprise-server@3.0" %}To delete a package on {% data variables.product.product_name %}, your token must at least have the `delete:packages` and `read:packages` scope. The `repo` scope is also required for repo-scoped packages.{% elsif currentVersion ver_lt "enterprise-server@3.1" %}To delete a specified version of a private package on {% data variables.product.product_name %}, your token must have the `delete:packages` and `repo` scope. Public packages cannot be deleted.{% elsif currentVersion == "github-ae@latest" %}To delete a specified version of a package on {% data variables.product.product_name %}, your token must have the `delete:packages` and `repo` scope.{% endif %} For more information, see "{% if currentVersion == "free-pro-team@latest" or currentVersion ver_gt "enterprise-server@3.0" %}[Deleting and restoring a package](/packages/learn-github-packages/deleting-and-restoring-a-package){% elsif currentVersion ver_lt "enterprise-server@3.1" or currentVersion == "github-ae@latest" %}[Deleting a package](/packages/learn-github-packages/deleting-a-package){% endif %}."

| Scope | Description | Repository permissions |
| --- | --- | --- |
|`read:packages`| Download and install packages from {% data variables.product.prodname_registry %} | read |
|`write:packages`| Upload and publish packages to {% data variables.product.prodname_registry %} | write |
| `delete:packages` | {% if currentVersion == "free-pro-team@latest" or currentVersion ver_gt "enterprise-server@3.0" %} Delete packages from {% data variables.product.prodname_registry %} {% elsif currentVersion ver_lt "enterprise-server@3.1" %} Delete specified versions of private packages from {% data variables.product.prodname_registry %}{% elsif currentVersion == "github-ae@latest" %} Delete specified versions of packages from {% data variables.product.prodname_registry %} {% endif %} | admin |
| `repo` | Upload and delete packages (along with `write:packages`, or `delete:packages`) | write, or admin |

When you create a {% data variables.product.prodname_actions %} workflow, you can use the `GITHUB_TOKEN` to publish and install packages in {% data variables.product.prodname_registry %} without needing to store and manage a personal access token.

For more information, see:
- "[Using {% data variables.product.prodname_registry %} with {% data variables.product.prodname_actions %}](/packages/using-github-packages-with-your-projects-ecosystem/)"
- "[Creating a personal access token](/github/authenticating-to-github/creating-a-personal-access-token/)"
- "[Available scopes](/apps/building-oauth-apps/understanding-scopes-for-oauth-apps/#available-scopes)"

### Managing packages

{% if currentVersion == "free-pro-team@latest" %}
You can delete a package in the {% data variables.product.product_name %} user interface or using the REST API. For more information, see the "[{% data variables.product.prodname_registry %} API](/rest/reference/packages)."
{% endif %}

{% if currentVersion ver_gt "enterprise-server@3.0" %}
You can delete a private or public package in the {% data variables.product.product_name %} user interface. Or for repo-scoped packages, you can delete a version of a private package using GraphQL.
{% endif %}

{% if currentVersion ver_lt "enterprise-server@3.1" %}
You can delete a version of a private package in the {% data variables.product.product_name %} user interface or using the GraphQL API.
{% endif %}

{% if currentVersion == "github-ae@latest" %}
You can delete a version of a package in the {% data variables.product.product_name %} user interface or using the GraphQL API.
{% endif %}

When you use the GraphQL API to query and delete private packages, you must use the same token you use to authenticate to {% data variables.product.prodname_registry %}. For more information, see "{% if currentVersion == "free-pro-team@latest" or currentVersion ver_gt "enterprise-server@3.0" %}[Deleting and restoring a package](/packages/learn-github-packages/deleting-and-restoring-a-package){% elsif currentVersion ver_lt "enterprise-server@3.1" or currentVersion == "github-ae@latest" %}[Deleting a package](/packages/learn-github-packages/deleting-a-package){% endif %}" and "[Forming calls with GraphQL](/graphql/guides/forming-calls-with-graphql)."

You can configure webhooks to subscribe to package-related events, such as when a package is published or updated. For more information, see the "[`package` webhook event](/webhooks/event-payloads/#package)."

### Contacting support

{% if currentVersion == "free-pro-team@latest" %}
If you have feedback or feature requests for {% data variables.product.prodname_registry %}, use the [feedback form for {% data variables.product.prodname_registry %}](https://support.github.com/contact/feedback?contact%5Bcategory%5D=github-packages).

Contact {% data variables.contact.github_support %} about {% data variables.product.prodname_registry %} using [our contact form](https://support.github.com/contact?form%5Bsubject%5D=Re:%20GitHub%20Packages) 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 %}