What is the term for the process of deploying an application and its environment in a container that can be easily automated?

The term that describes the process of deploying an application and its environment in a container, which can be easily automated, is known as containerization. This process involves packaging the application along with its dependencies into a single unit, called a container, that can run consistently across different computing environments.

Containerization allows developers to create lightweight, portable, and scalable application environments. By isolating the application from the underlying system, containers ensure that an application runs the same regardless of where it is deployed, be it in development, testing, or production environments. This consistency is a significant advantage for automation, enabling processes to be scripted and executed easily, thereby enhancing deployment speed and reducing errors.

Infrastructure automation generally refers to using software tools to create, manage, and configure infrastructure, which is broader and may not specifically entail the containerized environment context. Virtualization involves creating virtual versions of hardware or software, but it does not inherently focus on applications being deployed in containers. Orchestration is related to managing and automating processes in complex environments with multiple containers but does not define the act of deploying those containers themselves.