Kubernetes is an open-source container-orchestration system for managing web application deployment and maintenance. Docker is a set of platform-as-a-service products that use OS-level virtualization to deliver software in packages called containers. On this page we will explain the differences between Docker and Kubernetes and explore their strengths and weaknesses.
Docker is a virtualization software that allows users to run programs in packages called containers. It can store entire software packages, including libraries and config files, in small virtualized operating systems. These containers can be stored anywhere on local computers, on-premises servers, and the cloud. Docker runs programs in single instances of Linux - an open source operating system - to avoid the hassle and cost of using virtual machines.
Kubernetes is a large-scale cloud service management software for containers. It handles large volumes of containers and users simultaneously, allowing for thousands of instances of applications to run at once. The service allows a web application to efficiently handle user interactions with the app and each other online at a large scale.
The two services are similar, both utilizing containers. However, they have one key difference: Docker is a containerization software, whereas Kubernetes manages large volumes of containers. This means that Docker is used to create containerized applications, and Kubernetes is a corporate solution tasked with managing huge amounts of containers.