Container Image vs Helm Chart vs OCI Bundle

Container images

A Container image is a static / immutable file with executable code that can create a container on a computing system; provides just an application, not the configuration data necessary for running it.

Charts

only yamls, no binaries / images, they provide instructions that tell Kubernetes where to find the container images that it needs to run a certain application.

• a single chart could install multiple applications. E.g. install web server and database in one chart.
• Helm charts are more like a complete software installation package. When you run a Helm chart, it installs not just application binaries, but also all of the configuration data necessary to run an application.
• Helm charts work only for installing software on Kubernetes; containers can run anywhere.

OCI Bundle

OCI Bundles can have both Charts and Images. Which means both Helm charts and container images can be stored in a OCI compatible registry like Harbor.