What is the process of packaging an application with Docker known as?

The process of packaging an application with Docker is known as containerization. This method allows developers to bundle an application along with all its dependencies, libraries, and environment settings into a single unit called a container. Containers ensure that the application runs consistently across different computing environments, facilitating ease of deployment and scalability.

Containerization leverages the operating system's features to create isolated environments, which makes it lightweight compared to traditional virtualization that relies on hypervisors to run separate operating systems for each application instance. This approach streamlines the development process, as developers can be confident that the application will behave the same way regardless of where it is deployed.

By adopting containerization, teams can significantly enhance their workflow, improving both efficiency and productivity. The focus on packaging applications in containers has become a prevalent choice in modern development practices, especially in continuous integration and continuous deployment pipelines.