Docker is an open-source software platform used to create, deploy, and manage virtualized application containers on a common operating system (OS)
. It enables developers to build, ship, and run applications in a containerized format, separating the applications from the underlying infrastructure
. Some key features and benefits of Docker include:
- Containers : Docker containers are lightweight, standalone, executable packages of software that include everything needed to run an application, such as code, runtime, system tools, system libraries, and settings
- Portability : Docker containers can be moved to different servers or environments, ensuring that the application remains consistent and functional
- Efficiency : Docker enables faster and more efficient building and testing of containerized applications, allowing developers to work concurrently on multiple projects
- Docker Hub : This is a public repository of Docker images that contains open-source projects and individual developers' work. It allows users to share their images and access thousands of others
- Docker Daemon : This is a service that creates and manages Docker images, using commands from the client. It serves as the control center of a Docker implementation, running on a Docker host
- Docker Registry : A scalable open-source storage and distribution system for Docker images, enabling tracking of image versions in repositories using tagging for identification
Docker has become increasingly popular as organizations shift to cloud-native development and hybrid environments, as it simplifies the development and delivery of distributed applications
