In the case of Docker, containers = prepackaged ready-to-use out of the box software. Basically, you run some software (e.g. mysql) inside a docker container an

In the case of Docker, containers = prepackaged ready-to-use out of the box software. Basically, you run some software (e.g. mysql) inside a docker container and it comes with everything it needs preconfigured and installed (e.g. libraries, configurations,...). This makes it easy to: - Deploy to many places having the same environment - Update these programs easily (you just need to download and run a new container image) - Clean up easily by discarding the container I should probably also add that Docker is also a community to share these application images (containers).