Answer
Containers share the host OS kernel while VMs run a full OS. Containers start faster, use less memory, and are more efficient, while VMs provide stronger isolation with higher overhead.
Quick Answer
A VM runs a full guest operating system on top of a hypervisor — heavy, slow to start, GBs of disk. A container shares the host OS kernel and only packages the app and its libraries — lightweight, starts in milliseconds, uses far less disk and RAM. Containers are like isolated processes, not isolated computers.
S
SugharaIQ Editorial Team
Verified Answer
This answer has been peer-reviewed by industry experts holding senior engineering roles to ensure technical accuracy and relevance for modern interview standards.
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Source: SugharaIQ