What is accomplished by the command 'docker-compose up'?

The command 'docker-compose up' is essential for managing multi-container Docker applications. When executed, it initiates the services defined in a Docker Compose file (usually named docker-compose.yml). This file outlines the configuration for each service, including details like the image to use, ports to expose, environment variables, networks, and volumes.

By running 'docker-compose up', Docker Compose reads this configuration and starts all the specified services in the appropriate order, ensuring that any service dependencies are respected. If the images for those services don’t already exist, Docker Compose will automatically pull them from a registry or build them if specified in the compose file.

This command effectively sets up the entire environment needed for the application to run, making it straightforward to manage complex, multi-container setups with a single command.