TailStatic is built as a set of modular parts that work together to host and manage your websites. Understanding these parts will help you as you install and configure the system.

### Docker Images

TailStatic runs using two Docker images:

1. **TailStatic:** This is the heart of the system. It provides the web dashboard where you manage sites, users, and settings. It also handles the live traffic for your sites.
2. **TailStatic-Tools:** This is optional but essential for performance. It processes Tailwind CSS, minifies HTML, bundles assets, and generates social media images. 

### Shared Storage

Both services share a specific area on your server's disk, usually located at `/app/data/tailstatic`. This is where all your persistent data lives, including your database, security keys, and site files. Because this data is stored outside of the Docker containers, it stays safe even when you update or restart the services.

### Sites and Content

Inside TailStatic, each website is treated as an independent project. A site consists of:

* **Source Files:** Markdown content, Liquid templates, and assets like images.
* **Configuration:** Site-specific settings.
* **Rendered Output:** The final HTML and CSS files that visitors see.

**Next Steps**
* [Installation](/docs/docker-quickstart)

**See Also**

* [Welcome to TailStatic](/docs/welcome-to-tailstatic)