A Docker container is a lightweight, standalone, and executable software package that includes everything needed to run a piece of software, such as the code, runtime, system tools, libraries, and settings. Containers are instances of Docker images, which are read-only templates containing the instructions for creating a container. When a Docker image is run, it becomes a live, running instance known as a container.
Here are some key points about Docker containers:
Isolation: Containers provide an isolated environment for applications, ensuring that they do not interfere with each other or the host system. This isolation is achieved through process isolation and virtualization capabilities built into the Linux kernel, such as control groups (Cgroups) and namespaces[1][2][3][4].
Portability: Containers are designed to be platform-independent, meaning they can run on any system that supports the container runtime, regardless of the underlying operating system. This makes it easier to move applications between different environments, such as local development machines, testing servers, and cloud platforms[2][4][5].
Efficiency: Containers share the host system's operating system, which reduces the overhead compared to virtual machines that require separate OS instances. This leads to more efficient resource utilization and allows for a higher density of applications on a single host[1][4][8]....
