Docker is an open-source containerization platform that enables developers to package applications and all their dependencies into lightweight, portable containers that run consistently across different environments. Docker images are the blueprint for containers — they package your application code, dependencies, environment variables, and runtime configurations into a portable, reproducible format. This guide explains how to build Docker images efficiently and create an optimized Dockerfile. By the end, you'll have a tested, size-optimized Docker image built with docker buildx and ready to push to a registry.

The Short Answer

If you're already familiar with Docker and just need a quick reference, use the following commands:

# Build a Docker image from a Dockerfile in the current directory $ docker buildx build -t <image-name>:<tag> .…