How and when to use Docker labels / OCI container annotations

Docker image labels are metadata added to an image itself, not exposed to a running container, but valuable for codifying source code, support information, or CI build details. They can be standardized using the OCI Image Specification's "org.opencontainers.image." prefix and include keys such as "source", "revision", and "version". Custom labels can be used for project-specific metadata. Leveraging Docker labels and OCI annotations can enhance container security posture by documenting image construction, correlating images with their sources, and supporting automated tools like Snyk's image scanning. Standardized labels provide standardized metadata keys, while custom labels offer flexibility for project-specific use cases. Tools like regctl and Snyk's integration enable querying image labels from registries or clusters, facilitating the automatic correlation of images to their Dockerfiles and supporting deployment and security efforts.

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