Docker Volumes & Storage
3 Topics
1
Docker Volumes vs Bind Mounts vs tmpfs — When to Use Each
Understanding differences in directory isolation and write performance.
Interviewers will test your understanding of storage types. Be ready to explain how Volumes bypass the Union File System (OverlayFS) to provide native disk I/O speeds, how permissions differ between Bind Mounts and Volumes, and why tmpfs mounts are ideal for memory-backed security secrets.
2
Persistent Data with Named Volumes
Managing filesystem storage directories managed by Docker daemon.
Expect questions on volume lifecycle management. You should know how to create, inspect, and prune volumes. Be ready to explain the initialization behavior of named volumes (how they copy existing container folder data into the empty volume) and how to backup or restore a named volume in production.
3
Volume Drivers — Sharing Storage Across Hosts
Configuring NFS, AWS EFS, and cloud drivers for shared access.
Architectural interviews often test your knowledge of scaling storage in clusters. Understand the limits of local volumes (which lock containers to a specific host node) and explain how shared storage drivers (like NFS, AWS EFS, or third-party CSI drivers) allow container migration, state sharing, and high availability.