Kubernetes Tutorial

Last Updated : 18 Aug, 2025

Kubernetes is an open-source container management platform.

Automates the deployment, management, and scaling of container-based applications.
Developed by Google and launched in 2014, Kubernetes leverages Google's experience running production workloads and is now managed under the Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF).
It orchestrates containers—grouping them into logical units called pods and managing their lifecycle across a cluster of machines.
It enables Automated rollouts and rollbacks, restarts containers if they fail, Horizontal scaling, Service discovery and load balancing, and Storage orchestration and configuration management

Prerequisites for this Kubernetes Tutorial

Before start learning Kubernetes, it is important to have a solid understanding of certain concepts and technologies. Here are some prerequisites:

Have good understanding of Container concept & Container Management Tool like Docker or Podman.
Understanding of distributed system.
Understanding of REST API
Basic understanding of YAML

Basics of Kubernetes

Kubernetes is like a ship captain for containers, organizing and placing them on multiple computers (like a ship carrying many containers). This introduction will explain key Kubernetes ideas like Pods, Services, and Deployments.

Advanced Kubernetes

In this Advanced Kubernetes section we will understand how to manage complex containerized applications.

Why do we need Kubernetes?

There are several reasons to learn Kubernetes like easy scaling of applications, self-healing, portability, and automation. It is very helpful for running microservices and distributed systems.

For example : You have a couple of applications to deploy so, you can package it into a container and run it on a server containing a Docker engine or any other container engine. You package the application into a container using a Docker file and host it on a port for the external world to access it.

But there is a drawback is that it is only running on a single server so, if at that point any failure occurs it becomes an application failure, to handle the single point of failure google introduced Kubernetes to scale applications.

Kubernetes Architecture

Below you will find the image that describe the architecture of Kubernetes.

Features of Kubernetes

Kubernetes has many useful features that help run and manage containers on different machines. It makes it easier to control Kubernetes (K8s) clusters, and helps use computer resources more efficiently. Some important features include:

1. Persistent Storage

Kubernetes enables persistent storage means your data is saved even if you stops or restarts your container. It enables dynamic storage which means you can add storage automatically when needed. For example, If you are working on an application and your application needs more space then Kubernetes can connect it to extra storage without stopping your application.

2. Load Balancing

Kubernetes use load balancing to manage high demand traffic because of this your applications runs smoothly. Kubernetes provides both internal and external load balancing. This avoid overloading and make sure that users always reach a working application.

3. Efficient Resource Utilization

Kubernetes helps you to use hardware resources like CPU, memory and storage in a smart manner. It places containers on different machines so that no single machine gets overloaded which improves performance and saves money by using resource more effectively.

4. Resilience and Self-Healing

Kubernetes helps keep your application running even if something goes wrong. It can automatically place containers on healthy machines, restart them if they crash, make copies (replication) to handle more users, and adjust the number of containers based on demand (scaling). All of this helps your app fix itself and stay available without needing manual help.

5. Auto-Scaling

Kubernetes automatically scale up or down your resources according to your demand. This means that you can adjust the number of containers according to your need. This ensures that your applications always have the resources they need without manual intervention.

6. Consistency Across Environments

Kubernetes lets you describe your application using code, so it works the same in every environment like development, testing, and production. This reduces problems when moving apps between stages and makes the software delivery process faster and smoother.

Advantages of Kubernetes

Kubernetes offers numerous advantages, some of the key benefits include:

1. Container Orchestration

Kubernetes helps you to manage containerized applications automatically. It takes care of starting, stopping, and updating containers without any need from your end to do everything manually. This makes it easy to run applications smoothly and update them without downtime.

2. Scalability

Kubernetes works on horizontal scaling means it can grow or shrink your application based on how much traffic it gets. For example, if more people use your application, it can automatically add more containers to handle the load. When traffic is low, it can remove the extra containers to save resources and costs.

3. High Availability

Kubernetes checks your apps regularly to make sure they are working. If one part of your app stops, Kubernetes can fix it or replace it. This keeps your app running and reduces the chances of downtime.

4. Fault Tolerance

If any fault come in your production and container fails Kubernetes automatically restarts the app or moves it to a working machine. This helps your application continue running even if something breaks.

5. Flexibility

Kubernetes works in different environments. You can run your apps easily on public clouds like AWS, Google Cloud, or Azure, as well as on your own private cloud or data center. Kubernetes also makes it simple to switch between these providers, so you are not stuck using only one.

6. Resource Efficiency

Kubernetes uses system resources like CPU and memory wisely. It places containers in a way that makes the best use of your hardware. This helps reduce costs by not wasting any resources.

7. Automated Operations

Kubernetes makes your complex tasks simple like setting up networks, connecting storage, and balancing traffic between services. It uses automation and simple code instructions (called declarative APIs) to make operations faster and easier.

Conclusion

This tutorial gives a clear and complete introduction to Kubernetes. It explains what Kubernetes is, how it started, its main features, and how it helps run container-based applications. We also talked about how to install Kubernetes, use its APIs, and build a cluster. Whether you are a beginner or have some experience, this tutorial will help you understand how to use Kubernetes. It is a very popular tool in the tech world and is widely used to manage apps in real-life (production) systems.

Keep learning and trying things out with Kubernetes to see how much it can do!

amanchopra

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