---
title: "Kubernetes"
description: "An open-source container orchestration system for automating software deployment, scaling, and management."
related_terms: ["docker", "container", "microservices"]
---

# Kubernetes

**Kubernetes**, also known as K8s, is an open-source system for automating deployment, scaling, and management of containerized applications.

## Key Concepts

*   **Pod**: The smallest deployable unit in Kubernetes.
*   **Node**: A worker machine (VM or physical) that runs pods.
*   **Cluster**: A set of nodes running containerized applications.
*   **Service**: An abstract way to expose an application running on a set of Pods.

It was originally designed by Google and is now maintained by the Cloud Native Computing Foundation.