diff --git a/cmd/oci-image-tool/create.go b/cmd/oci-image-tool/create.go
index 7be454b..56de186 100644
--- a/cmd/oci-image-tool/create.go
+++ b/cmd/oci-image-tool/create.go
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ var bundleTypes = []string{
 
 type bundleCmd struct {
 	typ      string // the type to bundle, can be empty string
-	refs     []string
+	selects  []string
 	root     string
 	platform string
 }
@@ -43,19 +43,19 @@ func createAction(context *cli.Context) error {
 
 	v := bundleCmd{
 		typ:      context.String("type"),
-		refs:     context.StringSlice("ref"),
+		selects:  context.StringSlice("select"),
 		root:     context.String("rootfs"),
 		platform: context.String("platform"),
 	}
 
-	if len(v.refs) == 0 {
-		return fmt.Errorf("ref must be provided")
+	if len(v.selects) == 0 {
+		return fmt.Errorf("select must be provided")
 	}
 
-	for index, ref := range v.refs {
-		for i := index + 1; i < len(v.refs); i++ {
-			if ref == v.refs[i] {
-				fmt.Printf("WARNING: refs contains duplicate reference %q.\n", v.refs[i])
+	for index, sel := range v.selects {
+		for i := index + 1; i < len(v.selects); i++ {
+			if sel == v.selects[i] {
+				fmt.Printf("WARNING: selects contains duplicate selection %q.\n", v.selects[i])
 			}
 		}
 	}
@@ -71,13 +71,13 @@ func createAction(context *cli.Context) error {
 	var err error
 	switch v.typ {
 	case image.TypeImageLayout:
-		err = image.CreateRuntimeBundleLayout(context.Args()[0], context.Args()[1], v.root, v.platform, v.refs)
+		err = image.CreateRuntimeBundleLayout(context.Args()[0], context.Args()[1], v.root, v.platform, v.selects)
 
 	case image.TypeImageZip:
-		err = image.CreateRuntimeBundleZip(context.Args()[0], context.Args()[1], v.root, v.platform, v.refs)
+		err = image.CreateRuntimeBundleZip(context.Args()[0], context.Args()[1], v.root, v.platform, v.selects)
 
 	case image.TypeImage:
-		err = image.CreateRuntimeBundleFile(context.Args()[0], context.Args()[1], v.root, v.platform, v.refs)
+		err = image.CreateRuntimeBundleFile(context.Args()[0], context.Args()[1], v.root, v.platform, v.selects)
 
 	default:
 		err = fmt.Errorf("cannot create %q", v.typ)
@@ -100,8 +100,8 @@ var createCommand = cli.Command{
 			),
 		},
 		cli.StringSliceFlag{
-			Name:  "ref",
-			Usage: "A set of ref specify the search criteria for the validated reference, format is A=B. Only support 'name', 'platform.os' and 'digest' three cases.",
+			Name:  "select",
+			Usage: "Select the search criteria for the validated reference, format is A=B. Only support 'org.opencontainers.ref.name', 'platform.os' and 'digest' three cases.",
 		},
 		cli.StringFlag{
 			Name:  "rootfs",
diff --git a/cmd/oci-image-tool/unpack.go b/cmd/oci-image-tool/unpack.go
index 7e0c64a..8e31b58 100644
--- a/cmd/oci-image-tool/unpack.go
+++ b/cmd/oci-image-tool/unpack.go
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ var unpackTypes = []string{
 
 type unpackCmd struct {
 	typ      string // the type to unpack, can be empty string
-	refs     []string
+	selects  []string
 	platform string
 }
 
@@ -42,18 +42,18 @@ func unpackAction(context *cli.Context) error {
 
 	v := unpackCmd{
 		typ:      context.String("type"),
-		refs:     context.StringSlice("ref"),
+		selects:  context.StringSlice("select"),
 		platform: context.String("platform"),
 	}
 
-	if len(v.refs) == 0 {
-		return fmt.Errorf("ref must be provided")
+	if len(v.selects) == 0 {
+		return fmt.Errorf("select must be provided")
 	}
 
-	for index, ref := range v.refs {
-		for i := index + 1; i < len(v.refs); i++ {
-			if ref == v.refs[i] {
-				fmt.Printf("WARNING: refs contains duplicate reference %q.\n", v.refs[i])
+	for index, sel := range v.selects {
+		for i := index + 1; i < len(v.selects); i++ {
+			if sel == v.selects[i] {
+				fmt.Printf("WARNING: selects contains duplicate selection %q.\n", v.selects[i])
 			}
 		}
 	}
@@ -69,13 +69,13 @@ func unpackAction(context *cli.Context) error {
 	var err error
 	switch v.typ {
 	case image.TypeImageLayout:
-		err = image.UnpackLayout(context.Args()[0], context.Args()[1], v.platform, v.refs)
+		err = image.UnpackLayout(context.Args()[0], context.Args()[1], v.platform, v.selects)
 
 	case image.TypeImageZip:
-		err = image.UnpackZip(context.Args()[0], context.Args()[1], v.platform, v.refs)
+		err = image.UnpackZip(context.Args()[0], context.Args()[1], v.platform, v.selects)
 
 	case image.TypeImage:
-		err = image.UnpackFile(context.Args()[0], context.Args()[1], v.platform, v.refs)
+		err = image.UnpackFile(context.Args()[0], context.Args()[1], v.platform, v.selects)
 
 	default:
 		err = fmt.Errorf("cannot unpack %q", v.typ)
@@ -97,8 +97,8 @@ var unpackCommand = cli.Command{
 			),
 		},
 		cli.StringSliceFlag{
-			Name:  "ref",
-			Usage: "A set of ref specify the search criteria for the validated reference, format is A=B. Only support 'name', 'platform.os' and 'digest' three cases.",
+			Name:  "select",
+			Usage: "Select the search criteria for the validated reference, format is A=B. Only support 'org.opencontainers.ref.name', 'platform.os' and 'digest' three cases.",
 		},
 		cli.StringFlag{
 			Name:  "platform",
diff --git a/cmd/oci-image-tool/validate.go b/cmd/oci-image-tool/validate.go
index 2873aef..68e3abf 100644
--- a/cmd/oci-image-tool/validate.go
+++ b/cmd/oci-image-tool/validate.go
@@ -35,9 +35,9 @@ var validateTypes = []string{
 }
 
 type validateCmd struct {
-	stdout *log.Logger
-	typ    string // the type to validate, can be empty string
-	refs   []string
+	stdout  *log.Logger
+	typ     string // the type to validate, can be empty string
+	selects []string
 }
 
 var v validateCmd
@@ -48,18 +48,18 @@ func validateAction(context *cli.Context) error {
 	}
 
 	v = validateCmd{
-		typ:  context.String("type"),
-		refs: context.StringSlice("ref"),
+		typ:     context.String("type"),
+		selects: context.StringSlice("select"),
 	}
 
 	if v.typ == "" {
 		return fmt.Errorf("--type must be set")
 	}
 
-	for index, ref := range v.refs {
-		for i := index + 1; i < len(v.refs); i++ {
-			if ref == v.refs[i] {
-				fmt.Printf("WARNING: refs contains duplicate reference %q.\n", v.refs[i])
+	for index, sel := range v.selects {
+		for i := index + 1; i < len(v.selects); i++ {
+			if sel == v.selects[i] {
+				fmt.Printf("WARNING: selects contains duplicate selection %q.\n", v.selects[i])
 			}
 		}
 	}
@@ -109,16 +109,16 @@ func validatePath(name string) error {
 		fmt.Println("autodetected image file type is:", imageType)
 		switch imageType {
 		case image.TypeImageLayout:
-			return image.ValidateLayout(name, v.refs, v.stdout)
+			return image.ValidateLayout(name, v.selects, v.stdout)
 		case image.TypeImageZip:
-			return image.ValidateZip(name, v.refs, v.stdout)
+			return image.ValidateZip(name, v.selects, v.stdout)
 		case image.TypeImage:
-			return image.ValidateFile(name, v.refs, v.stdout)
+			return image.ValidateFile(name, v.selects, v.stdout)
 		}
 	}
 
-	if len(v.refs) != 0 {
-		fmt.Println("WARNING: refs are only appropriate if type is image")
+	if len(v.selects) != 0 {
+		fmt.Println("WARNING: selects are only appropriate if type is image")
 	}
 	f, err := os.Open(name)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -151,8 +151,8 @@ var validateCommand = cli.Command{
 			),
 		},
 		cli.StringSliceFlag{
-			Name:  "ref",
-			Usage: "A set of ref specify the search criteria for the validated reference. Format is A=B. Only support 'name', 'platform.os' and 'digest' three cases. Only applicable if type is image",
+			Name:  "select",
+			Usage: "Select the search criteria for the validated reference, format is A=B. Only support 'org.opencontainers.ref.name', 'platform.os' and 'digest' three cases. Only applicable if type is image",
 		},
 	},
 }
diff --git a/image/descriptor.go b/image/descriptor.go
index 5bf19ac..290d778 100644
--- a/image/descriptor.go
+++ b/image/descriptor.go
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ func findDescriptor(w walker, names []string) ([]v1.Descriptor, error) {
 			}
 
 			switch argsParts[0] {
-			case "name":
+			case "org.opencontainers.ref.name":
 				for i := 0; i < len(descs); i++ {
 					if descs[i].Annotations[v1.AnnotationRefName] != argsParts[1] {
 						descs = append(descs[:i], descs[i+1:]...)
@@ -97,9 +97,9 @@ func findDescriptor(w walker, names []string) ([]v1.Descriptor, error) {
 	}
 
 	if len(descs) == 0 {
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("index.json: descriptor retrieved by refs %v is not match", names)
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("index.json: descriptor retrieved by selects %v is not match", names)
 	} else if len(descs) > 1 {
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("index.json: descriptor retrieved by refs %v is not unique", names)
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("index.json: descriptor retrieved by selects %v is not unique", names)
 	}
 
 	return descs, nil
diff --git a/image/image_test.go b/image/image_test.go
index 7141d98..9c99ae8 100644
--- a/image/image_test.go
+++ b/image/image_test.go
@@ -88,13 +88,13 @@ const (
 )
 
 var (
-	ref1 = []string{
-		"name=latest",
+	select1 = []string{
+		"org.opencontainers.ref.name=latest",
 		"platform.os=linux",
 	}
 
-	ref2 = []string{
-		"name=v1.0",
+	select2 = []string{
+		"org.opencontainers.ref.name=v1.0",
 		"platform.os=linux",
 	}
 
@@ -184,7 +184,7 @@ type tarContent struct {
 type imageLayout struct {
 	rootDir   string
 	layout    string
-	ref       []string
+	selects   []string
 	manifest  string
 	index     string
 	config    string
@@ -226,7 +226,7 @@ func TestImageLayout(t *testing.T) {
 	il := imageLayout{
 		rootDir:   root,
 		layout:    layoutStr,
-		ref:       ref1,
+		selects:   select1,
 		manifest:  manifestStr,
 		index:     indexStr,
 		indexjson: indexJSON,
@@ -242,24 +242,24 @@ func TestImageLayout(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
 
-	err = ValidateLayout(root, ref1, nil)
+	err = ValidateLayout(root, select1, nil)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
 
-	err = UnpackLayout(root, dest1, "", ref1)
+	err = UnpackLayout(root, dest1, "", select1)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
-	err = UnpackLayout(root, dest2, "linux:amd64", ref2)
+	err = UnpackLayout(root, dest2, "linux:amd64", select2)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
-	err = CreateRuntimeBundleLayout(root, dest3, "rootfs", "", ref1)
+	err = CreateRuntimeBundleLayout(root, dest3, "rootfs", "", select1)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
-	err = CreateRuntimeBundleLayout(root, dest4, "rootfs", "linux:amd64", ref2)
+	err = CreateRuntimeBundleLayout(root, dest4, "rootfs", "linux:amd64", select2)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
diff --git a/man/oci-image-tool-create.1.md b/man/oci-image-tool-create.1.md
index fbd5ed7..2a989e7 100644
--- a/man/oci-image-tool-create.1.md
+++ b/man/oci-image-tool-create.1.md
@@ -17,11 +17,11 @@ runtime-spec-compatible `dest/config.json`.
 **--help**
   Print usage statement
 
-**--ref**=[]
-  Specify the search criteria for the validated reference, format is A=B.
+**--select**=[]
+  Select the search criteria for the validated reference, format is A=B.
   Reference should point to a manifest or index.
-  e.g. --ref name=v1.0 --ref platform.os=latest
-  Only support `name`, `platform.os` and `digest` three cases.
+  e.g. --select org.opencontainers.ref.name=v1.0 --select platform.os=latest
+  Only support `org.opencontainers.ref.name`, `platform.os` and `digest` three cases.
 
 **--rootfs**=""
   A directory representing the root filesystem of the container in the OCI runtime bundle. It is strongly recommended to keep the default value. (default "rootfs")
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ runtime-spec-compatible `dest/config.json`.
 ```
 $ skopeo copy docker://busybox oci:busybox-oci:latest
 $ mkdir busybox-bundle
-$ oci-image-tool create --ref name=latest busybox-oci busybox-bundle
+$ oci-image-tool create --select org.opencontainers.ref.name=latest busybox-oci busybox-bundle
 $ cd busybox-bundle && sudo runc run busybox
 [...]
 ```
diff --git a/man/oci-image-tool-unpack.1.md b/man/oci-image-tool-unpack.1.md
index d43f574..eccfe15 100644
--- a/man/oci-image-tool-unpack.1.md
+++ b/man/oci-image-tool-unpack.1.md
@@ -14,11 +14,11 @@ oci-image-tool unpack \- Unpack an image or image source layout
 **--help**
   Print usage statement
 
-**--ref**=[]
-  Specify the search criteria for the validated reference, format is A=B.
+**--select**=[]
+  Select the search criteria for the validated reference, format is A=B.
   Reference should point to a manifest or index.
-  e.g. --ref name=v1.0 --ref platform.os=latest
-  Only support `name`, `platform.os` and `digest` three cases.
+  e.g. --select org.opencontainers.ref.name=v1.0 --select platform.os=latest
+  Only support `org.opencontainers.ref.name`, `platform.os` and `digest` three cases.
 
 **--type**=""
   Type of the file to unpack. If unset, oci-image-tool will try to auto-detect the type. One of "imageLayout,image,imageZip"
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ oci-image-tool unpack \- Unpack an image or image source layout
 ```
 $ skopeo copy docker://busybox oci:busybox-oci:latest
 $ mkdir busybox-bundle
-$ oci-image-tool unpack --ref name=latest busybox-oci busybox-bundle
+$ oci-image-tool unpack --select org.opencontainers.ref.name=latest busybox-oci busybox-bundle
 $ tree busybox-bundle
 busybox-bundle
 ├── bin
diff --git a/man/oci-image-tool-validate.1.md b/man/oci-image-tool-validate.1.md
index 6ae22ed..eda8a65 100644
--- a/man/oci-image-tool-validate.1.md
+++ b/man/oci-image-tool-validate.1.md
@@ -16,10 +16,10 @@ oci-image-tool validate \- Validate one or more image files
   Print usage statement
 
 **--ref**=[]
-  Specify the search criteria for the validated reference, format is A=B.
+  Select the search criteria for the validated reference, format is A=B.
   Reference should point to a manifest or index.
-  e.g. --ref name=v1.0 --ref platform.os=latest
-  Only support `name`, `platform.os` and `digest` three cases.
+  e.g. --select org.opencontainers.ref.name=v1.0 --select platform.os=latest
+  Only support `org.opencontainers.ref.name`, `platform.os` and `digest` three cases.
   Only applicable if type is image.
 
 **--type**=""
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ oci-image-tool validate \- Validate one or more image files
 # EXAMPLES
 ```
 $ skopeo copy docker://busybox oci:busybox-oci:latest
-$ oci-image-tool validate --type image --ref name=latest busybox-oci
+$ oci-image-tool validate --type image --select org.opencontainers.ref.name=latest busybox-oci
 busybox-oci: OK
 ```