Concept / Term · Established

Container

A portable package

What does Container mean?

A lightweight, self-contained bundle holding an app and everything it needs, so it runs the same way on any machine with a container runtime installed.

Category: Building, Shipping & Running
Maturity: Established
Last reviewed: 2026-08-30

Keep exploring

DeployPublishing software so it actually runs where people can use it, such as a server, the cloud or an app store.
BuildTurning written source code into a finished program or package that can run.
ReleaseA packaged, version-numbered edition of the software made available to users.
CI/CDThe practice of automatically testing and shipping small code changes often and safely, instead of rare, risky launches.
PipelineThe specific configured sequence of automated steps a project runs (test, build, deploy). It is the machinery that puts CI/CD into practice.
EnvironmentSeparate copies of a system: development for building, staging for testing, and production ('prod') for real users.
RollbackReverting to the previous working version when a new release causes problems.
DockerThe best-known tool for creating and running containers, and the one that popularised the format.

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