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| 1 | +--- |
| 2 | +title: Coolify Concepts |
| 3 | +--- |
| 4 | + |
| 5 | +<ZoomableImage src="/docs/images/get-started/concepts-banner.webp" /> |
| 6 | + |
| 7 | +<br /> |
| 8 | + |
| 9 | +Many people start their self-hosting journey after discovering Coolify. If you’re one of them, here’s a list of a few concepts that could make your experience smoother. |
| 10 | + |
| 11 | + |
| 12 | +## Servers |
| 13 | +A server is a computer designed to run applications or services, providing the necessary computing power for your projects. |
| 14 | + |
| 15 | +It can be either physical such as a machine you have at home, like a Raspberry Pi, or one rented from a hosting provider like Hetzner. |
| 16 | + |
| 17 | + |
| 18 | +## Resources |
| 19 | +In Coolify, a resource refers to an application or service you set up on your server—like a website, database, or API. |
| 20 | + |
| 21 | +Each resource comes with its own configuration, like domains, backups, health checks, and so on. |
| 22 | + |
| 23 | +Coolify offers a handy list of pre-set resources, called one-click services, that you can deploy instantly. But if you prefer, you can also deploy your own application easily. |
| 24 | + |
| 25 | + |
| 26 | +## Environments |
| 27 | +In Coolify, a environment is a tailored setup on your server that determines how your resources operate. |
| 28 | + |
| 29 | +For instance, you could have a development environment for testing and debugging your code, alongside a production environment where your finished application goes live. |
| 30 | + |
| 31 | +With Coolify, you can set up multiple environments on a single server, letting you switch between them effortlessly. |
| 32 | + |
| 33 | + |
| 34 | +## Projects |
| 35 | +A project in Coolify is a group of environments and resources you’ve deployed on your server. |
| 36 | + |
| 37 | +It serves as the highest-level structure in Coolify, organizing your deployment setup. |
| 38 | + |
| 39 | +You can manage multiple projects on the same server, each with its own unique set of environments and resources. |
| 40 | + |
| 41 | +For example, you might create one project for all your hobby-related resources and another for work-related ones. |
| 42 | + |
| 43 | + |
| 44 | +## Containers |
| 45 | +In Coolify, everything you deploy runs as a Docker container, making it easy to manage and isolate your application. |
| 46 | + |
| 47 | +You can use pre-built Docker images from public registries like Docker Hub or GitHub Container Registry to deploy without building them yourself. |
| 48 | + |
| 49 | +To deploy, you need a Docker image, either one you’ve built or one from someone else. |
| 50 | + |
| 51 | +If you’re coding your own app, Coolify can auto-build the image from a Dockerfile or Docker Compose file, though this resource-heavy process requires a capable server. |
| 52 | + |
| 53 | +Alternatively, you can build the image elsewhere, push it to a registry, and let Coolify deploy it as a container. |
| 54 | + |
| 55 | + |
| 56 | +## Reverse Proxy |
| 57 | +A reverse proxy is a server or app that sits between your application and users, forwarding requests to the right place. |
| 58 | + |
| 59 | +Coolify includes two proxy options, Caddy and Traefik, which handle requests to your website by directing them to the container running your app. |
| 60 | + |
| 61 | +This setup lets you run multiple applications on one server without tweaking configs or ports. |
| 62 | + |
| 63 | +Plus, Coolify supports unlimited domains, so you could deploy 20 different apps, each with its own unique domain. |
| 64 | + |
| 65 | + |
| 66 | +## Security |
| 67 | +Coolify doesn’t manage your server’s security or updates, that’s your responsibility to keep everything secure and up to date. |
| 68 | + |
| 69 | +It’s built to simplify deployment management for you. While the Coolify core team plans to introduce more security features eventually, for now, securing your server is entirely up to you. |
| 70 | + |
| 71 | +## Teams |
| 72 | +Coolify supports multiple users and teams, allowing each team to have its own projects and environments. |
| 73 | + |
| 74 | +You can assign roles like admin to users, simplifying project management and collaboration on a single server. |
| 75 | + |
| 76 | +Currently, the teams feature isn’t fully polished for production use, but the Coolify core team plans to enhance it down the line. |
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