Docker Compose for Multi-Container Applications Mastery Hub

In the context of microservices orchestration with Docker Compose, what is the primary benefit of defining explicit dependencies between services using the `depends_on` directive in `docker-compose.yml`?

When designing a multi-container microservices application using Docker Compose, what is the most effective strategy for managing sensitive configuration data, such as database credentials or API keys, across different services?

Consider a scenario where a microservice relies on a database service that is managed by Docker Compose. If the database container is restarted due to a configuration change, what is the expected behavior for the microservice container that depends on it, assuming `depends_on` is configured and no other specific health checks are implemented?