This document provides an overview of Docker containers and their benefits. It begins by explaining what Docker containers are, noting that they wrap up software code and dependencies into lightweight packages that can run consistently on any hardware platform. It then discusses some key benefits of Docker containers like their portability, efficiency, and ability to eliminate compatibility issues. The document provides examples of how Docker solves problems related to managing multiple software stacks and environments. It also compares Docker containers to virtual machines. Finally, it outlines some common use cases for Docker like application development, CI/CD workflows, microservices, and hybrid cloud deployments.
Virtual Machines
Each virtualized application includes not only the application - which may be only 10s of MB - and the necessary binaries and libraries, but also an entire guest operating system - which may weigh 10s of GB.
Docker
The Docker Engine container comprises just the application and its dependencies. It runs as an isolated process in userspace on the host operating system, sharing the kernel with other containers. Thus, it enjoys the resource isolation and allocation benefits of VMs but is much more portable and efficient.
Virtual Machines
Each virtualized application includes not only the application - which may be only 10s of MB - and the necessary binaries and libraries, but also an entire guest operating system - which may weigh 10s of GB.
Docker
The Docker Engine container comprises just the application and its dependencies. It runs as an isolated process in userspace on the host operating system, sharing the kernel with other containers. Thus, it enjoys the resource isolation and allocation benefits of VMs but is much more portable and efficient.
The modern application platform is built on Docker and containers. From developers to IT, Windows and Linux, on-premises to cloud, Docker is the unifying platform to modernize all apps from commercial off the shelf, homegrown traditional and microservices. Simply being Dockerized provides these apps the characteristics of being agile, safer, resilient, cloud enabled and cost optimized as they enter a modern software supply chain. Docker empowers digital transformation one app, service and stack at a time. - from the developer desktop to production.