I have watched countless videos and read numerous articles attempting to explain what Docker is, but each time I think I understand Docker containers, I become even more confused. In this post, I will attempt to break down Docker containers into simpler terms that we can all understand.

Imagine the image above is the installation folder for Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell video game, a great game by the way(you should check it out after this post). Most installation folders follow a similar structure, with a main setup file and additional binaries and libraries required for installation. However, there's a catch – your computer might not meet the minimum requirements to play the game, preventing you from enjoying it. But what if there was a way to simply download the game, start playing it right away, and not have to go through the installation process or worry about meeting system requirements?

That's where Docker containers come in. In essence, Docker containers are like magical boxes that not only contain the entire game but also ensure that it already meets all the necessary requirements for running. Thinking in terms of Docker and the video game analogy, you can imagine this box as a self-contained package that has the game installed and configured perfectly inside it. The beauty of it is that because the game within the box already meets all the requirements, you can just run it on your personal computer without having to worry about compatibility or system requirements. All the container needs is access to the underlying kernel of your operating system to make the magic happen.

In the context of Docker containers, they are also like these magical boxes. Docker containers are self-contained packages that encapsulate an application and all its dependencies. They include everything needed for the application to run, such as libraries, binaries, and configuration files. These containers run independently from your host machine, utilizing the underlying kernel of your operating system to access the necessary resources. By utilizing the host kernel and not requiring their own separate operating system, Docker containers are lightweight and fast to start up.

With Docker containers, you can package applications in a consistent and portable manner, making them easily deployable across different environments. Just like the game within the magical box, Docker containers provide a reliable and self-contained runtime environment for applications, ensuring consistent behavior regardless of the underlying host machine. They offer the convenience of being able to download and run applications without the need for complex installation processes or concerns about system compatibility.