IntermediatePhone
2 min
Docker Volume vs Bind Mount
DockerContainersStorage
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Interview Question
What is the difference between a Docker volume and a bind mount, and when would you use each?
Key Points to Cover
- Volume managed by Docker, stored in /var/lib/docker/volumes
- Bind mount uses host filesystem paths directly
- Use volume for portability and backups; bind mount for local dev
Evaluation Rubric
Defines volumes and usage34% weight
Explains bind mounts33% weight
Describes correct scenarios33% weight
Hints
- 💡Volumes integrate better with orchestration.
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
- ⚠️Confusing volumes with bind mounts and using them interchangeably, leading to suboptimal data management strategies.
- ⚠️Using bind mounts for production application data that requires high portability and easy backup/restoration, which volumes are better suited for.
- ⚠️Not understanding the security implications of bind mounts, potentially exposing sensitive host files or directories to containers if not configured carefully.
- ⚠️Improperly managing the lifecycle of Docker volumes, leading to 'dangling' volumes that consume disk space but are no longer associated with any container.
- ⚠️Encountering permission issues (e.g., `chmod`/`chown` challenges) between the host and container when using bind mounts, especially across different operating systems or user contexts.
Potential Follow-up Questions
- ❓How to inspect volumes?
- ❓How are named vs anonymous volumes different?
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