In order to access docker-machine socket the docker container uses docker-engine which I think is what you are asking about. So it is a “container runtime” which is capable of running container images. To allow control via the docker command-line interface or via another utility or orchestration system, Docker engine can accept commands either from a file- or network-based socket. By default, it listens to a socket at /var/run/docker.sock. If you want to learn more about Docker I would suggest you must take up the following Docker Training Course. If you are more into reading then here is a Docker tutorial which you can read to learn more about it. I am also mentioning a video tutorial of Docker which you can watch to learn more about Docker.