What is the impact of the number of layers in a Docker image on performance and how can it be optimized?

Question

Docker Fundamentals — Hard

What is the impact of the number of layers in a Docker image on performance and how can it be optimized?

Accepted Answer

Layers in a Docker image impact performance by adding filesystem overhead and increasing image size. To optimize, chain commands in a single RUN instruction, use multi-stage builds, and clean up in the same RUN instruction. This reduces layer count and improves efficiency.