Docker healthchecks: what they actually measure and what you shouldn't promise

Short summary

Docker HEALTHCHECK only verifies your process is running and accepting connections, not database connectivity or queue status. Most production /health endpoints only test TCP availability without checking real dependencies, creating false security that hides critical failures. Pair healthchecks with application metrics and external monitoring for true observability.

• •HEALTHCHECK confirms process availability, not application health
• •Most /health endpoints only test TCP without checking dependencies
• •Pair healthchecks with metrics, logs, and external monitoring

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