What is the purpose of multi-stage builds in Docker?

The purpose of multi-stage builds in Docker is primarily to optimize image size. This technique allows developers to create smaller and more efficient Docker images by enabling the separation of the build environment from the runtime environment. In a multi-stage build, you can use one stage to compile the code and another stage to copy only the necessary artifacts into a minimal runtime image. This helps to reduce the final image size by excluding unnecessary files, dependencies, and tools that are only needed during the build process, making the resulting image lighter and quicker to pull and deploy.

By focusing on only the essential components needed for the application to run, multi-stage builds not only facilitate faster deployments but also aid in maintaining cleaner, more maintainable Dockerfiles. This process contributes to a more efficient workflow and can lead to faster startup times and reduced resource consumption in production environments.