Background: The paradigm for web application deployment has shifted decisively from monolithic architectures on virtual machines to containerized microservices. This transformation is largely driven by two core technologies: Docker, which standardizes the creation and distribution of application containers, and Kubernetes, which has become the de facto standard for orchestrating these containers at scale. While the benefits are widely acknowledged, a holistic understanding of their synergistic impact and the attendant challenges remains crucial.

Objectives: This paper aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the Docker and Kubernetes ecosystem within the context of modern web development. The primary objectives are: (1) to dissect the synergistic relationship between Docker’s containerization and Kubernetes’s orchestration; (2) to evaluate their collective impact on development workflows, application scalability, and resilience; and (3) to critically assess the complex security landscape introduced by these distributed, cloud-native systems.

Methods: The study employs a systematic literature review, synthesizing foundational texts, peer-reviewed articles, and influential technical papers. The analysis is structured around a qualitative framework focusing on three pillars: development/deployment efficiency, scalability/resilience, and security/governance.

Results: The analysis confirms that the Docker-Kubernetes synergy is a primary enabler of DevOps and microservices architectures, leading to significant improvements in deployment velocity and infrastructure efficiency. Kubernetes provides robust, declarative mechanisms for self-healing, scaling, and high availability. However, these benefits are accompanied by significant security challenges across the container lifecycle, including image vulnerabilities, runtime threats, and complex network security requirements that necessitate a Zero Trust approach.

Conclusion: The Docker-Kubernetes ecosystem represents a fundamental and transformative force in web development. While offering unparalleled agility and scalability, its successful adoption demands a strategic approach to managing operational complexity and integrating a multi-layered security model. Future research should focus on emerging areas such as serverless containers and AI-driven cluster operations.