Container orchestration is the automated management of software containers, which are lightweight, portable units that package applications and their dependencies. This process helps in deploying, scaling, and operating containerized applications efficiently across clusters of machines. Tools like Kubernetes and Docker Swarm are commonly used for container orchestration. They enable developers to manage the lifecycle of containers, ensuring that the right number of containers are running, handling failures, and facilitating updates without downtime. This orchestration simplifies complex tasks, making it easier to maintain and scale applications in dynamic environments.