docker

Multi-stage builds optimize Docker images by using multiple FROM statements to separate build dependencies from runtime requirements. This approach produces smaller, more secure final images by copying only necessary artifacts between stages, eliminating bloated production containers.

Docker Compose orchestrates multi-service applications by defining multi-container workflows in a single YAML file. You need it when coordinating networking, volumes, and dependencies across multiple containers, enabling reproducible local development and scalable microservices deployments.

Docker networking and volumes isolate and persist data for containerized applications. Networking enables inter-container communication across custom bridge or overlay networks, while volumes mount persistent storage outside the container lifecycle, ensuring data survives container restarts and rebuilds.

Docker integrates into CI/CD build pipelines by automating image building, tagging, and registry pushes during deployment workflows. This ensures reproducible builds across environments, eliminating inconsistency issues by packaging applications with their dependencies into standardized container images.

Dockerfile security best practices involve minimizing attack surfaces by using minimal base images and non-root users. Image tagging strategies enforce version control by applying semantic version tags alongside latest, ensuring traceable and reproducible deployments across registry workflows.