Lesson 1
15 min
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Introduction to Docker
Understanding containers and why Docker revolutionized software deployment.
What is Docker?
Docker is a platform for developing, shipping, and running applications in containers—lightweight, standalone, executable packages that include everything needed to run an application.
Containers vs Virtual Machines
| Feature | Containers | VMs |
|---|---|---|
| Startup Time | Seconds | Minutes |
| Size | MBs | GBs |
| Isolation | Process-level | Full OS |
| Performance | Near-native | Overhead |
Docker Architecture
- Docker Engine - The runtime that runs containers
- Docker Images - Read-only templates for containers
- Docker Containers - Running instances of images
- Docker Registry - Storage for images (Docker Hub)