Docker containers are fundamental units in the Docker ecosystem, offering a
standardized and isolated environment for running applications. Here are key notes
about them:
1. What is a Docker Container?
• A Docker container is a lightweight, standalone, and executable package of
software.
• It includes everything needed to run an application: code, runtime, system tools,
libraries, and settings.
• Containers are runtime instances of Docker Images. When you execute a Docker
Image, a container is created. [1, 2]
2. Key Characteristics:
• Lightweight: Containers share the host machine's operating system kernel, unlike
virtual machines that require a full OS per application. This makes them
significantly lighter in terms of resource consumption (disk space, RAM).
• Isolated: Containers run in isolated environments, preventing conflicts between
applications and ensuring consistent behavior across different environments.
• Portable: Containers encapsulate an application and all its dependencies,
ensuring it runs consistently across various environments (developer's laptop,
testing servers, production). [3]
• Executable: Containers are runnable instances of images, meaning they can be
started, stopped, moved, or deleted using the Docker API or CLI.
3. Creation and Management:
• Creation: Containers are created by running a Docker Image using commands like
docker run.
• Lifecycle Management: You can manage containers using Docker commands for
starting, stopping, restarting, pausing, unpausing, and removing them.
• Networking: Containers can be connected to one or more networks, enabling
communication with other containers or the host machine.
• Storage: Persistent storage can be attached to containers to ensure data persists
even after the container is removed.
4. Relationship with Docker Images:
• Docker Images are read-only templates that contain the instructions for creating
a container.
• Containers are the live, runnable instances of these images.
• You can create new images based on the current state of a container.
5. Benefits:
• Consistency: Ensures applications run the same way across different environments.
• Efficiency: Optimizes resource utilization due to their lightweight nature.
• Faster Development & Deployment: Simplifies the packaging and deployment process,
accelerating the software development lifecycle.
• Scalability: Facilitates easier scaling of applications by quickly launching new
container instances.
AI responses may include mistakes.
[1] https://aws.plainenglish.io/docker-explained-simply-for-a-10-year-old-the-
magic-box-for-computer-programs-94452b930d6b[2] https://www.docker.com/resources/
what-container/[3] https://www.intellinez.com/blog/what-is-docker/
