Clear DefinitionsDocker Container
1 min read
Pronunciation
[dok-er kuhn-tey-ner]
Analogy
Like shipping a fully furnished room in a sealed container—you can set it down anywhere and it works the same.
Definition
A lightweight, portable unit of software packaging that bundles an application and its dependencies in an isolated user‑space environment, ensuring consistent execution across platforms.
Key Points Intro
Docker containers simplify deployment by encapsulating code, libraries, and configuration.
Key Points
Isolation: Uses OS-level namespaces and cgroups.
Portability: Run identical containers on any Docker‑enabled host.
Immutability: Container images are versioned and read‑only.
Efficiency: Shares kernel, lower overhead than VMs.
Example
A blockchain node runs in a Docker container with predefined image, exposing RPC ports and mounting volume for persistent chain data.
Technical Deep Dive
Dockerfile defines image build steps. The Docker Engine uses containerd to manage lifecycle. Namespaces isolate PID, network, and mount points; cgroups limit CPU/memory. UnionFS layers provide copy‑on‑write file system.
Security Warning
Containers share host kernel; a breakout vulnerability can compromise host. Use minimal base images and enable seccomp profiles.
Caveat
Not a security boundary; combine with VM isolation for high‑security workloads.
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