Explore the fundamentals of container technology in this 42-minute conference talk by Michael Irwin from Virginia Tech. Begin with a brief historical context to understand the motivation behind containers, then delve into the core concepts of images and containers. Learn about data persistence through volumes, gain an overview of Docker Compose, and discover the basics of container orchestration. Benefit from live demonstrations and engaging explanations that demystify containers, making them accessible for beginners and those tasked with training others. Cover topics such as creating and sharing images, container layers, file management, Docker networking, and various orchestrators. Leave with a comprehensive understanding of container technology and its practical applications in modern software development and deployment.