How does a Docker image differ from a Docker container?

A Docker image fundamentally serves as a blueprint or a read-only template for creating instances known as containers. Images encapsulate everything necessary for running software, such as the code, runtime, libraries, environment variables, and configurations. When a Docker image is executed, it generates a container that runs an isolated instance of the software defined within that image. This distinction is crucial in understanding containerization because it highlights that images themselves do not perform tasks; rather, they are utilized to spawn containers, which are the operational entities that actually run processes.

The correct choice underscores the read-only nature of images and their function in creating containers. This is a core aspect of how Docker operates, enabling efficient deployment and management of applications through isolation and abstraction.

In contrast to this, there are misunderstandings in the other options. The idea of an image being a template can mislead someone into thinking it's similar to a container, which is an active runtime instance rather than just a static source. Additionally, the incorrect notion that a container can encompass multiple images misrepresents the architecture of Docker, which distinguishes clearly between individual images and instant containers created from them. Lastly, while it's true that images cannot be modified after their creation, the essence of the relationship between an image and a