What is the main benefit of using Docker images?

The main benefit of using Docker images being lightweight and easy to deploy is crucial for several reasons in software development and deployment. Docker images contain all the necessary components, including libraries, dependencies, and the application itself, encapsulating them into a single package. This encapsulation allows developers to run applications consistently across various environments, from a developer's local machine to production servers.

The lightweight nature of Docker images enables faster download and deployment compared to traditional virtual machines, which can be cumbersome due to their larger size and the overhead of running a full operating system. Docker images start quickly because they utilize a copy-on-write filesystem, meaning they share common layers but only store changes made. This efficiency accelerates the continuous integration and delivery processes, making it ideal for modern DevOps practices.

Using Docker images streamlines the workflow, allowing teams to focus on development and delivery rather than spending time on installation and configuration issues that often arise from different operating environments. Therefore, the ability of Docker images to be lightweight and easily deployable represents a significant advantage in achieving agility and scalability in application management.