What is the advantage of using a read-only image?

Utilizing a read-only image offers improved security and consistency, which are significant advantages in managing containerized applications. When images are read-only, it means that they cannot be modified after they are created. This immutability ensures that the environment in which an application runs remains consistent across different deployments. Consistency is crucial for troubleshooting, debugging, and ensuring that applications behave as expected in production environments.

Additionally, the use of read-only images contributes to enhanced security. By limiting the ability to alter the image, you reduce the potential attack surface for malicious actions that could compromise the application or the underlying system. For instance, if a hacker gains access to a container, their ability to make changes to the image would be restricted, thus providing an additional layer of protection.

While other options suggest their own advantages—such as storage elimination, performance enhancement, and ease of sharing—these do not capture the core benefits of using a read-only image as effectively as security and consistency do. Security and consistency are foundational to building robust, reliable applications in a containerized environment.