Containerization (computing): Difference between revisions

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{{Short description|Cloud computing concept}}

In [[software engineering]], '''containerization''' is [[OS-level virtualization|operating-system–levelsystem-level virtualization]] or [[application-level virtualization]] over multiple network resources so that software applications can run in isolated user spaces called ''containers'' in any [[Cloud computing|cloud]] or non-cloud environment, regardless of type or [[vendor]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Scheepers |first1=Mathijs Jeroen |title=Virtualization and Containerization of Application Infrastructure: A Comparison |website= thijs.ai | publisher= Thijs Scheepers |date=2014 |s2cid=18129086 |url= https://thijs.ai/papers/scheepers-virtualization-containerization.pdf }}</ref> The term "container" is overloaded, and it is important to ensure that the intended definition aligns with the audience's understanding. <ref>{{Cite book |title=Cloud Foundry: The Definitive Guide Develop, Deploy, and Scale| first= Duncan C. E.| last= Winn| publisher= O'Reilly Media, Inc. |year= 2017 |isbn= 9781491932544}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title= Concepts: Containers| website= Kubernetes.io| publisher= | url=https://kubernetes.io/docs/concepts/containers/ | date= | access-date= }}</ref>

== Usage ==

Each ''container'' is basically a fully functional and portable cloud or non-cloud computing environment surrounding the application and keeping it independent of other environments running in parallel.<ref>{{Cite web|title=What is containerization?|url=https://www.redhat.com/en/topics/cloud-native-apps/what-is-containerization|url-status=live|access-date=2021-07-10|website=www.redhat.com|publisher=[[RedHat]]|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210508174632/https://www.redhat.com/en/topics/cloud-native-apps/what-is-containerization |archive-date=2021-05-08 }}</ref> Individually, each container simulates a different software application and runs isolated processes<ref>{{Cite web|last1=Hinck|first1=Tim Maurer, Garrett|last2=Hinck|first2=Tim Maurer, Garrett|title=Cloud Security: A Primer for Policymakers|url=https://carnegieendowment.org/research/2020/08/31/cloud-security-a-primer-for-policymakers-pub-82597?lang=en|access-date=2021-07-10|website=Carnegie Endowment for International Peace|language=en}}</ref> by bundling related configuration files, libraries and dependencies.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Rubens|first=Paul|date=2017-06-27|title=What are containers and why do you need them?|url=https://www.cio.com/article/2924995/what-are-containers-and-why-do-you-need-them.html|access-date=2021-07-10|website=CIO|language=en}}</ref> But, collectively, multiple containers share a common [[Kernel (operating system)|operating system kernel]] (OS).<ref>{{Cite web|title=Containerization|url=https://www.ibm.com/in-en/cloud/learn/containerization|access-date=2021-07-10|website=www.ibm.com|language=en-in}}</ref>

In recent times, containerization technology has been widely adopted by cloud computing platforms like [[Amazon Web Services]], [[Microsoft Azure]], [[Google Cloud Platform]], and [[IBM Cloud]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=December 2019|first=Jonas P. DeMuro 18|title=What is container technology?|url=https://www.techradar.com/in/news/what-is-container-technology|access-date=2021-07-10|website=TechRadar India|date=18 December 2019|language=en}}</ref> Containerization has also been pursued by the U.S. Department of Defense as a way of more rapidly developing and fielding software updates, with first application in its [[Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor|F-22]] air superiority fighter.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://aviationweek.com/defense-space/sensors-electronic-warfare/flight-test-clears-f-22-fleet-accept-third-party-software |title=Flight Test Clears F-22 Fleet To Accept Third-Party Software |work=Aviation Week |date=30 August 2022}}</ref>

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;Journal articles:

* {{cite journal |last1=Bentaleb |first1=Ouafa |last2=Belloum |first2=Adam S. Z. |last3=Sebaa |first3=Abderrazak |last4=El-Maouhab |first4=Aouaouche |title=Containerization technologies: taxonomies, applications and challenges |journal=The Journal of Supercomputing |date=8 June 2021 |volume=78 |pages=1144–1181 |doi=10.1007/s11227-021-03914-1 |s2cid=236220833 }}

* Moreau, David; Wiebels, Kristina; Boettiger, Carl (2023). Containers for computational reproducibility. ''Nature Reviews Methods Primers,'' 3 (50). https://doi.org/10.1038/s43586-023-00236-9

* {{cite journal |last1=Watada |first1=Junzo |last2=Roy |first2=Arunava |last3=Kadikar |first3=Ruturaj |last4=Pham |first4=Hoang |last5=Xu |first5=Bing |title=Emerging Trends, Techniques and Open Issues of Containerization: A Review |journal=IEEE Access |date=2019 |volume=7 |pages=152443–152472 |doi=10.1109/ACCESS.2019.2945930 |bibcode=2019IEEEA...7o2443W |s2cid=204970781 |doi-access=free }}

* {{cite journal |last1=van den Berg |first1=Tom |last2=Siegel |first2=Barry |last3=Cramp |first3=Anthony |title=Containerization of high level architecture-based simulations: A case study |journal=The Journal of Defense Modeling and Simulation: Applications, Methodology, Technology |date=April 2017 |volume=14 |issue=2 |pages=115–138 |doi=10.1177/1548512916662365 |s2cid=64405143 |doi-access=free }}