What is Docker, and How is it Used with .NET?

Docker is an open-source platform used to package applications into containers. Containers are lightweight, standalone, and executable units that  have all the necessary components to run the application: code, runtime, libraries, and dependencies.

Think of a Docker container as a portable environment that runs your application consistently, whether on a developer’s laptop, a test server, or in the cloud.

How is Docker used with .NET?

When working with .NET, Docker helps you build and deploy applications in a reliable and consistent way across different environments.

Common Use Cases:

1. Containerizing .NET Applications

You can package your ASP.NET Core, .NET API, or .NET console app into a Docker container using a Dockerfile.

Example for an ASP.NET Core app:

FROM mcr.microsoft.com/dotnet/aspnet:8.0 AS base
WORKDIR /app
EXPOSE 80
FROM mcr.microsoft.com/dotnet/sdk:8.0 AS build
WORKDIR /src
COPY . .
RUN dotnet publish -c Release -o /app/publish
FROM base AS final
WORKDIR /app
COPY --from=build /app/publish .
ENTRYPOINT ["dotnet", "YourApp.dll"]

2. Building and Running with Docker CLI

Build:

docker build -t yourapp .

Run:

docker run -d -p 8080:80 yourapp

3. Multi-platform and Cloud Deployments

Docker ensures your .NET app runs the same way everywhere—whether on Windows, Linux, or cloud platforms like Azure, AWS, or GCP.

4. Microservices with Docker + .NET

Each microservice (built with ASP.NET Core or .NET 8 Minimal APIs) can run in its own container, making microservice architectures easier to manage and scale.

5. Integration with CI/CD

Docker can be part of your DevOps pipeline. You can:

• Build Docker images in GitHub Actions, Azure DevOps, etc.
• Push to container registries like Docker Hub or Azure Container Registry.
• Deploy to Kubernetes or other orchestrators.

What are the Benefits of Using Docker with .NET?

Final Thoughts

Docker + .NET is a powerful combination that gives you portability, consistency, and scalability in how you build and run your applications. Whether you’re building APIs with Minimal APIs in .NET 8 or full-blown web apps, Docker simplifies deployment and streamlines your development-to-production workflow.