What Is a Chroot Jail?
A chroot jail uses the chroot operation to set a new root directory for a process so that paths it opens are resolved within a chosen subtree. The process can no longer name files outside that subtree, which confines what it can read and execute. It predates containers and provides isolation only for the filesystem view, not other resources.
Why it matters
Chroot is a lightweight way to build minimal, reproducible environments for builds and tests. It is weaker than a full container, so it is a stepping stone rather than a security boundary on its own.
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