Operations → Runtime Infrastructure
Container
A packaged process environment that includes application code and its runtime dependencies while sharing the host OS kernel.
Where it fits
A container is an isolated process environment used to run applications consistently. It connects operating-system primitives to deployment and orchestration tools.
Mental model
A container is not a tiny VM. It is a process running with isolated namespaces, filesystem layers, and resource controls.
Example
A web API container might include the application binary, runtime, dependencies, and startup command.
Common mistakes
- Assuming containers provide strong security by default.
- Storing persistent state inside ephemeral containers.
- Confusing images with running containers.
Related concepts
Docker, Kubernetes, container image, deployment, runtime infrastructure.