Containerization is a virtualization technology that packages software code along with its dependencies into units called “containers.” These containers provide a self-contained and isolated environment for applications to run, ensuring consistency across different computing environments. This technology is particularly prevalent in cloud computing, where containers can be deployed and managed efficiently.

Containers are typically orchestrated using systems like Kubernetes or Docker Swarm, which automate the management and scheduling of containers across clusters of servers. Each container is built from a container image, which serves as a blueprint for creating the container. This process can be likened to following a recipe, where the image provides the necessary specifications for instantiation ¹³.

One of the key advantages of containerization is its efficiency. Containers are lightweight and faster than traditional virtual machines because they do not require a full operating system to boot. This allows for more containers to run on a single host, making it a popular choice among software companies for developing and deploying applications ¹³.