OCI

OCI is an acronym with multiple uses in information technology. The two most common references are Oracle Cloud Infrastructure, a cloud platform from Oracle, and the Open Container Initiative, a standards body for container formats and runtimes.

Oracle Cloud Infrastructure refers to Oracle Corporation’s cloud computing service, introduced in 2016 as a suite of infrastructure- and platform-as-a-service offerings. OCI provides core cloud components such as compute instances, block and object storage, virtual networks, load balancing, and identity and access management, along with databases, analytics, and AI services. It operates across a global network of regions and availability domains to support high availability and security. OCI emphasizes performance through options like bare-metal servers and autonomous services, including Oracle Autonomous Database. The platform supports various deployment models, supports Oracle and non‑Oracle software, and integrates with Oracle development tools and applications. Pricing is available on a pay‑as‑you‑go or subscription basis, with security, compliance, and governance features designed for enterprise use.

Open Container Initiative refers to the standards organization under the Linux Foundation that was formed in 2015 by Docker and other industry participants to standardize container formats and runtimes. The OCI publishes specifications for the OCI Image Format and the OCI Runtime Specification, which define how container images are built and how container runtimes should execute them. These specifications enable interoperability among container engines such as runc, containerd, and CRI-O, and underpin interoperability with orchestration systems like Kubernetes. The OCI’s governance is community-driven, with development and maintenance carried out by participating members and contributors.

In summary, OCI can denote a major cloud platform by Oracle or a key standards body shaping container technology, reflecting its dual role in cloud services and container interoperability.