---
description: >
  The Packer Docker Save post-processor takes an artifact from the docker
  builder

  that was committed and saves it to a file. This is similar to exporting the

  Docker image directly from the builder, except that it preserves the hierarchy

  of images and metadata.
page_title: Docker Save - Post-Processors
sidebar_title: Docker Save
---

# Docker Save Post-Processor

Type: `docker-save`
Artifact BuilderId: `packer.post-processor.docker-save`

The Packer Docker Save post-processor takes an artifact from the [docker
builder](/docs/builders/docker) that was committed and saves it to a file.
This is similar to exporting the Docker image directly from the builder, except
that it preserves the hierarchy of images and metadata.

We understand the terminology can be a bit confusing, but we've adopted the
terminology from Docker, so if you're familiar with that, then you'll be
familiar with this and vice versa.

## Configuration

### Required

The configuration for this post-processor only requires one option.

- `path` (string) - The path to save the image.

### Optional

- `keep_input_artifact` (boolean) - if true, do not delete the docker
  container, and only save the .tar created by docker save. Defaults to true.

## Example

An example is shown below, showing only the post-processor configuration:

<Tabs>
<Tab heading="JSON">

```json
{
  "type": "docker-save",
  "path": "foo.tar"
}
```
</Tab>

<Tab heading="HCL2">

```hcl
post-processors "docker-save" {
  path = "foo.tar"
}
```
</Tab>
</Tabs>

