Docker is an open-source platform that allows developers to easily create, deploy, and run applications in containers. Containers are lightweight, portable, and self-contained units of software that include all the necessary dependencies to run an application. Docker provides a way to package applications and their dependencies into a single container, which can be easily deployed on any platform that supports Docker. This makes it easier for developers to build, test, and deploy applications across multiple environments, including cloud, on-premises, or hybrid environments. Docker also provides tools for managing containers, such as Docker Compose for orchestrating multi-container applications and Docker Swarm for clustering and scaling containers across multiple hosts.