Docker is a software container platform. Originally released in 2013 as an open source Docker Engine, it has grown enormously in popularity and now has an integral place in most DevOps toolchains. It enables developers to easily pack, ship, and run any application as a lightweight, portable, self-sufficient container, which can run almost anywhere. This eliminates “works on my machine” problems when collaborating on code, ensuring that applications work seamlessly in any environment.
Docker containers are the preferred replacement for Virtual Machines (VMs), given that they boot faster, perform better, and consume less memory resources. Docker Containers are also able to share a single kernel and share application libraries.