What is the role of a Docker registry in containerized application deployment, and how does it interact with container images?

A Docker registry plays an important role in the deployment of containerized applications, acting as a centralized hub for storing and distributing container images. When you build a Docker image, it's usually tagged and pushed to a Docker registry, serving as the authoritative source from which various environments can seamlessly pull the image for deployment. Popular Docker registries like Docker Hub or Amazon Elastic Container Registry (ECR) offer an array of essential features, including robust version control, fine-grained access control, and sophisticated image management capabilities. These registries promote efficient collaboration within development teams, as they facilitate the sharing of container images across different environments. Moreover, they ensure deployment consistency by enabling you to retrieve specific versions of images, guaranteeing that your application runs with the expected configurations and dependencies.