Mount has several meanings in different contexts. Generally, it refers to making something available or accessible, making something usable, or attaching something.

Docker#

In Docker, mounting means making a specific part of the filesystem (a directory or file) available inside the container. When you mount something, you’re allowing the container to access and use it from the host system.

File Systems#

In operating systems like Linux, mounting refers to attaching a storage device (like a hard drive, USB drive, or partition) to the operating system’s directory structure.

Once a device is mounted, its files become accessible under a specific directory (called a “mount point”). This is similar to what happens in Docker with bind mounts or volumes.

Example: When you plug in a USB drive, the OS mounts it, allowing you to access the files stored on it.

IT/Server Context#

In IT and server contexts, mounting can also refer to connecting a remote file system or network storage to a server, making it appear as part of the local file system.

Example: “The remote NFS share was mounted to the server.”

React#

In React or UI development, the term “mount” refers to the process of adding a component to the DOM, essentially making it visible and active on the web page.