What Are Containers?
Containers package all the necessary files for an individual application into one place. This includes any libraries, code, and databases needed to run that particular software. Containing all these elements in one place has many benefits:
- Efficiency: When a microservice is packaged in a container, it reduces the effort needed to deploy or update the application. Developers can break up large solutions into smaller microservices. These can then be worked on independently of each other without disrupting the entire application.
- Multiple Environments: The standardized packaging of application components makes it possible to run a container on several platforms. This means developers can write code once and then run it on the OS of their choice. With a traditional approach to coding, the initial code had to be modified for different operating systems. Containers, however, eliminate this need.
- Scalability: Multiple containers can be supported on a single infrastructure. This enables them to handle an increased volume of work. They are lightweight so they are easy to start and stop. This allows for rapid scaling—up or down.