Understanding Docker: A Beginner’s Guide

Docker has revolutionized the way we build, ship, and run applications. In this article, we’ll delve into the world of containerization and explore how Docker works, along with some essential commands to get you started.

What is Containerization?

Containerization is a lightweight virtualization method that allows you to package an application and its dependencies into a single container, which can be run on any system that has Docker installed. This approach eliminates the need for traditional virtual machines (VMs) and their associated overhead.

How Does Docker Work?

Docker uses a client-server architecture to manage containers. Here’s a high-level overview of the process:

1. Image Creation: You create a Docker image by defining a Dockerfile, which contains instructions on how to build your application, along with its dependencies.
2. Image Building: The Docker daemon builds the image from the Dockerfile.
3. Container Creation: When you run a container from an image, Docker creates a new process that runs in isolation from the host system.
4. Container Execution: The container executes the application and its dependencies, which are isolated from other containers and the host system.

Basic Docker Commands