# Overview

## Containers vs. Virtual Machines

![](https://868646840-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-LztfBhQUrZzyA7O_ZkJ%2Fsync%2F6cd6ecf3e1cd6311f8c01320b6b1c54041b2bfbe.png?generation=1599680585043355\&alt=media)

| Container                                                                          | VM                                                                           |
| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Does not contain OS in the container (each container must be based on the same OS) | Contains OS, so each virtual machine can run different OS-based applications |
| Boots up faster                                                                    | Boost slower                                                                 |
| Takes up less space                                                                | Takes up more space                                                          |

![](https://868646840-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-LztfBhQUrZzyA7O_ZkJ%2Fsync%2F6a55c3002a85d522a97eb351bdb32df1f21a45c2.png?generation=1599680585258003\&alt=media)

As shown above, we actually want to combine the two like so.

## Container vs. Images

You spawn instances of an image (the instances are the containers).