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What is the difference between a container’s “image layer” and “container layer”?

Junior Docker
Quick Answer Image layers are read-only รขโ‚ฌโ€ they're shared across all containers using that image. The container layer is a thin, writable layer added on top specifically for that container. Any writes (new files, modified files) go into the container layer via copy-on-write. The image underneath is never modified.

Answer

Image layers are read-only and shared among containers. Container layer is a thin writable layer on top where runtime changes occur.
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