What is Docker volume?

Docker volume is the recommended method for storing data created and utilized by Docker containers is to use volumes. Docker manages volumes entirely, whereas bind mounts rely on the host machine’s operating system and directory structure. Bind mounts are more difficult to transfer or backup than volumes. Volumes may be managed via the Docker API or Docker CLI commands. Volumes are compatible with Windows and Linux containers. Sharing volumes among several containers is safer.

Use Cases of Docker volume

• A volume should be used to store the data that your application creates, such as documents, profile pictures, and file uploads.
• By mirroring /var/lib/docker/volumes to a different place, Docker’s centralized volume storage makes it simple to back up container data. The operation may be automated with community tools and Docker Desktop extensions, making it far easier than manually transferring each bind-mounted directory.
• It is recommended that you mount a volume to the storage directories that Mongo, Postgres, and MySQL databases utilize. Your data will remain intact even after the container shuts down thanks to this.
• It is possible to mount Docker volumes to several containers at once. Containers can see modifications made by their neighbors in real time.

Advantages of Docker volume

• Docker Desktop volumes perform far better than bind mounts from Windows and Mac computers.
• Docker Volume drivers enable you to add more functionality, encrypt the contents of volumes, and store volumes on distant hosts or cloud providers.
• For flexibility and scalability, Docker volumes may be set up to leverage external storage options like cloud storage services or network-attached storage.
• Docker Volumes may be managed via the Docker API or Docker CLI commands.

Disadvantages of Docker volume

• The Docker platform is open source overall, certain container solutions are not compatible with others, mostly because of competition between the companies who provide support for them.
• It may be difficult to move volumes across various Docker environments, particularly if the underlying storage drivers or settings change.
• Docker Volumes may raise security issues depending on how they are configured, particularly if they are shared by several containers.
• The only monitoring solution offered by Docker is the stats command. If we just need the bare minimum of information about the containers, then that is adequate.

Docker volume and Bind mount are the docker components. Using bind mounts, you may mount a file or directory from your host computer onto your container and access it using its absolute path. Because Docker does everything independently, it is not dependent on the host computer’s operating system or your directory structure. The Docker CLI commands or the Docker API may be used to manage Docker Volumes. It is safer to share quantities among many containers. The host computer’s absolute path to the file or directory serves as a point of reference. Conversely, when a volume is used, Docker makes a new directory in the host machine’s storage directory and keeps it updated.