Using a .dockerignore file
The .dockerignore file is a text file that tells Docker to ignore certain files and directories when building a Docker image from a Dockerfile. This is similar to how the .gitignore file works in Git.
The primary benefit of using a .dockerignore file is that it can significantly speed up the Docker build process. When Docker builds an image, it first sends all of the files in the current directory (known as the “build context”) to the Docker daemon. If this directory contains large files or directories that aren’t necessary for building the Docker image (such as log files, local environment variables, cache files, etc.), these can be ignored to speed up the build process.
Moreover, using a .dockerignore file can help to improve security and maintain clean code practices. For instance, it helps prevent potentially sensitive information (such as .env files containing private keys) from being included in the Docker image. It can also...
