Containerizing Your Backend with Docker: A Practical Guide

In the realm of modern software development, Docker has become a cornerstone, providing a streamlined approach to packaging and deploying applications. This article delves into the fundamental aspects of Docker, elucidates its advantages, and offers a concise guide on containerizing your backend.

Let’s delve into the practical steps of containerizing a nodejs/expressjs backend application using Docker commands:

1. Create a Dockerfile:

The Dockerfile should be created in the root directory of your project or application. The Dockerfile is a set of instructions that Docker uses to build an image of your application. Placing the Dockerfile in the root directory allows Docker to easily locate and use it during the image-building process.

2. Edit Dockerfile (Example):

3. Build the Docker Image:

So, when you run the `docker build -t my-backend-app .` command:

1. Docker looks for a Dockerfile in the current directory.

2. It reads the instructions in the Dockerfile to create layers for the image.