How does Docker differ from traditional virtual machines?

Prepare for the Docker Certified Associate test with our comprehensive quizzes that include key questions and detailed explanations. Ace your certification!

Docker containers share the host OS kernel, which is a fundamental aspect that differentiates Docker from traditional virtual machines (VMs). In a traditional virtual machine setup, each VM includes not only the application and its dependencies but also a full guest operating system, which is virtualized on top of a hypervisor. This means each VM is resource-intensive, as they require their own operating system instance and a hypervisor to manage them.

In contrast, Docker containers are lightweight because they run on the host operating system, utilizing the same OS kernel across all containers. This allows them to be more efficient in terms of resource usage, meaning they can start up and scale much faster than VMs. Containers encapsulate applications and their dependencies without the overhead of multiple OS instances, providing a more agile environment for application deployment and management.

This efficient architecture allows for a higher density of applications on the same hardware compared to traditional VMs, making Docker a more resource-optimized solution for deploying applications.

Subscribe

Get the latest from Examzify

You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our privacy policy