What is the purpose of Docker Compose?

The purpose of Docker Compose is primarily to enable multi-container applications. It is a tool designed to define and run multi-container Docker applications through the use of a single YAML configuration file, called docker-compose.yml. This file outlines the services, networks, and volumes required for an application, making it easier to orchestrate multiple containers that may interact with one another.

By using Docker Compose, developers can start, stop, and manage a set of containers as a single application, simplifying the process of managing the relationships and dependencies between different services. For example, you might have a web application that requires a database and a cache server; Docker Compose allows you to define all these components in one place and manage their lifecycles together.

This functionality makes it significantly easier to develop and deploy complex applications that consist of multiple services.