Docker Containers: 9 Fundamental Facts

Docker is an open source platform designed to build, distribute and run applications inside a container. A container is a virtual box that packages applications with dependent services and components. In comparison to the traditional virtualization functionalities of hypervisors, Docker containers eliminate the need for a separate guest operating system for every new virtual machine.

Docker implements a high-level API to provide lightweight containers that run processes in isolation. It works on the kernel’s functionalities to ensure resource (CPU, memory, block I/O, network and more) isolation. Docker automates application deployment inside software-defined containers that provide an additional layer of automation and an abstraction of operating system-level virtualization on Linux.

A Docker container enables rapid deployment with minimum run-time requirements. It also ensures better management and simplified portability while reducing the resource requirements for deploying new containers. This helps developers and system admins in rapid deployment of an application.

With all of these benefits, Docker containers are quickly making inroads in today's enterprise environment. Click ahead for the most important things you need to know about Docker containers.