What option can limit memory usage for a Docker container?

The option that can limit memory usage for a Docker container includes both the --memory flag and the -m shorthand version of the same flag. When Docker containers run, they can consume varying amounts of memory based on the processes and applications they are executing. To manage and restrict the amount of memory a container can use, you can specify a limit.

Using --memory, you can define the maximum amount of memory that the container can utilize. This flag allows you to set specific limits, such as 512m (for 512 megabytes) or 2g (for 2 gigabytes), ensuring the container doesn’t exceed the designated memory threshold during execution.

The -m flag serves the same purpose as --memory but provides a convenient shorthand option for users who prefer to type less. Both flags achieve the same result, giving users flexibility in how they limit memory usage for their containers. By specifying a memory limit, you ensure more efficient resource management and prevent any single container from consuming all the available memory, which could lead to performance degradation or crashing of other containers or the host system itself.

Thus, the answer encompasses both flag forms, reinforcing the idea that memory management is essential in containerized environments.