Docker Networking — How Containers Connect with the Outside Universe

Tony
7 min readAug 18, 2024

Docker, the revolutionary containerization platform, utilizes OS-level virtualization to encapsulate software applications and their dependencies into portable and reusable units known as containers. Whether deployed locally on your personal computer or in the expansive realms of the cloud, Docker ensures seamless compatibility across diverse environments.

Facilitating seamless communication between containers, the Docker networking system empowers users to effortlessly manage connections within their ecosystem and with the external world. With support for a range of network types, Docker caters to diverse use cases, fostering flexibility and efficiency in software development and deployment.

Docker Network Basics

Docker networks serve as the vital link between adjacent containers and external resources. To access any network capabilities, containers must be linked to a Docker network. The connectivity options available to a container are determined by its network affiliations.

Docker offers a selection of five pre-built network drivers, each designed to deliver essential networking capabilities:

  • Bridge: The bridge network driver creates an internal network that allows containers to communicate with each other on…

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