Which term describes a binary file containing all components needed to run as a Docker container instance?

The term that describes a binary file containing all the components needed to run as a Docker container instance is a Container Image. A Container Image encapsulates everything required to execute an application in a containerized environment, including the application code, libraries, dependencies, and runtime components. This self-contained package ensures that the application runs consistently across different environments, as the image includes all necessary software configurations along with the code itself.

In contrast, a Dockerfile is a script containing a series of instructions for building a Docker image. While it is a critical component in the process of creating an image, it is not the image itself.

An Image Repository is a storage location for Docker images, often hosted on platforms like Docker Hub. It serves as a place where images can be stored, retrieved, and shared, but again, it does not define the image itself.

Container Configuration refers to the settings or specifications that define how a container should run, such as environment variables, ports, and resource limits. This is distinct from the actual binary file that is the image.

Overall, a Container Image is specifically designed to encapsulate all the elements necessary to create and run a Docker container, making it the correct answer.