Containerization in cloud computing: comparing Docker and Kubernetes for scalable web applications

Abstract

Containerization has taken cloud computing to a new level where application developers can develop an attractive way of deploying portable web apps. This paper compares Docker, one of the most popular containerization technologies, and Kubernetes based on their ability to manage cloud resources, advanced integration, and microservices implementation. Docker, which produces lightweight containers, reduces complexity in the application delivery process by including all the software components and their configurations. Kubernetes, in contrast, stands tall as a manufacturing tool for the automation of containerized application deployment, scaling, and management in clusters. Here, the study's objective is to give a comparative analysis of Docker and Kubernetes to understand the best course of action. The research thus integrates a quantitative assessment of the performance of different algorithms based on simulated data with several case studies in various sectors, including e-commerce and software as a service (SaaS). Basic parameters of deployment velocity, resource consumption, system growth capabilities, and robustness of the two platforms are considered here as comprehensive measures. The present study reveals that Docker can provide simple, portable solutions for small, small, and medium-scale applications. Kubernetes offers excellent orchestration solutions that are better for large-scale and complex applications. The study concludes that Docker and Kubernetes are suitable whenever specific project demands are involved. However, Docker stands out in a basic project setup and configuration, while Kubernetes functions better within the multi-cloud/ microservices conditions. The findings of this research are useful in informing organizations on their best practices when using containerization.