A lightweight, portable package that bundles an application with its dependencies so it runs the same way across different environments.
Containers solve the classic problem of software that works on one machine but fails on another. A container image includes the application code, runtime, libraries, and configuration, but shares the host operating system's kernel rather than including a full operating system of its own.
This makes containers much lighter and faster to start than virtual machines. A developer can build an image on a laptop and run the identical image on a test server or in the cloud. Docker popularized containers for everyday development, and Kubernetes became the dominant tool for running large numbers of them in production. Containers fit naturally with microservices and CI/CD pipelines, though they require attention to image security and resource limits.
A popular platform for building, sharing, and running applications inside containers.
KubernetesAn open-source platform that automates deploying, scaling, and managing containerized applications across clusters of machines.
MicroservicesAn architecture style in which an application is built as a collection of small, independent services that communicate over APIs.
OrchestrationAutomated coordination and management of multiple systems, services, or tasks so they work together as a complete workflow.
Virtual MachineA software-based computer that runs its own operating system and applications on shared physical hardware.
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