How does Docker Compose handle communication between containers?

How does Docker Compose handle communication between containers?

Docker Compose allows containers to communicate with each other using service names as hostnames. Each service can be accessed by its name defined in the docker-compose.yml file.

Can you give me an example of how to set this up?

Sure! In your docker-compose.yml, you might have a web service and a database service. The web service can connect to the database using the service name like this: db:5432.

What if I want to expose a port for external access?

You can expose a port by adding the ports section in your service definition. For example, ports: - "8080:80" will map port 80 of the container to port 8080 on the host.

Is there a way to link containers directly?

Yes, you can use the links option in Docker Compose, but it's generally recommended to use service names for communication instead.