Container Image Architecture

Container Image Basics

A container image is a tar file with metadata.
It is designed for efficient image building and distribution.

Layered Image Structure

Container images are built using multiple layers.
Base system images like BusyBox or Alpine are commonly used as the foundation.
Application-specific layers are added on top of the base image.
The layered file system combines all layers into a single file system.

Benefits of Layered Images

Layered images allow for efficient image building.
Common components are shared across multiple images.
Using layers reduces image size and speeds up image transfer.

Managing Image Layers

Docker and other container engines manage image layers.
Overlay filesystem drivers, like OverlayFS, handle the layer management.

Best Practices

Reduce the number of layers in your container images for better performance.
Minimize the size of each layer to optimize image building and distribution.