How do you connect a Docker container to a specific network?

Connecting a Docker container to a specific network is done by using the --network flag in the docker run command. This allows you to specify which network the container should join when it is created. By using this flag followed by the network's name, you instruct Docker to attach the new container to that predefined network, facilitating communication with other containers on the same network.

The use of the --network flag ensures that the container can interact with other containers within that network, leveraging Docker's capabilities for service discovery and network isolation. This is essential for applications where different services may need to interact with one another in a controlled environment.

In contrast, the approach of using the -n flag is incorrect because there is no such flag in the standard Docker runtime commands to connect a container to a network. Specifying the network name in the Dockerfile may not designate a network connection; instead, it defines how the container is built, not how it operates during deployment. Using the connect command in the Docker CLI is applicable for connecting an existing container to a network but is not the method used during the initial creation of a container.