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SPECIFICTION
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Kubernetes

kubernetes.io

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Spec score 8.1 #7 of 32 in Container Orchestration Software

What it is

Kubernetes is an open-source system for automating deployment, scaling, and management of containerized applications. It supports stateless, stateful, and data-processing workloads, and can run locally, in a cloud, or in a datacenter; users can also choose a managed service rather than operate a cluster themselves. It coordinates gradual updates while monitoring application health and can roll back a change if something goes wrong. Pods receive IP addresses and groups of Pods can share a DNS name, with load balancing across them. Kubernetes can mount storage from local, public-cloud, or network systems such as iSCSI or NFS. Secrets and configuration can be updated without rebuilding images. Scaling can be manual or automatic based on CPU use. Security mechanisms include Secrets, Pod security standards, RuntimeClasses, network policies, admission controllers, and audit logging. Kubernetes is free, with a listed plan price of free. It does not include application-level services such as databases, message buses, caches, or cluster storage systems.

Spec sheet

Purpose
Kubernetes is an open source system for automating deployment, scaling, and management of containerized applications.Read 29 Sep 2026 · kubernetes.io
Integrations
Kubernetes lets users integrate logging, monitoring, and alerting solutions, and its defaults are optional and pluggable.Read 29 Sep 2026 · kubernetes.io
Security
Kubernetes expects TLS for control-plane traffic and supports encryption at rest for data stored in the control plane.Read 29 Sep 2026 · kubernetes.io
Support
The Kubernetes project says Kubernetes services, support, and tools are widely available.Read 29 Sep 2026 · kubernetes.io
Founded
2014Read 23 Sep 2026 · kubernetes.io
Deployment options
Kubernetes can be deployed on a local machine, in the cloud, or in a datacenter, and users can choose a managed service if they do not want to operate a cluster themselves.Read 29 Sep 2026 · kubernetes.io
Downloads
Kubernetes publishes component binaries and container images; kubectl is installable on Linux, macOS, and Windows.Read 29 Sep 2026 · kubernetes.io
Limitations
Kubernetes does not provide application-level services such as databases, message buses, caches, or cluster storage systems as built-in services.Read 29 Sep 2026 · kubernetes.io
Networking
It gives Pods IP addresses and a shared DNS name for a set of Pods, and can load-balance across them.Read 29 Sep 2026 · kubernetes.io
Project status
Kubernetes is a CNCF graduated project.Read 29 Sep 2026 · kubernetes.io
Rollouts
Kubernetes progressively rolls out changes while monitoring application health and can roll back a change if something goes wrong.Read 29 Sep 2026 · kubernetes.io
Scaling
Applications can be scaled manually or automatically based on CPU usage, and resource requests and limits can be adjusted based on usage patterns.Read 29 Sep 2026 · kubernetes.io
Secrets
Secrets and application configuration can be deployed and updated without rebuilding the image.Read 29 Sep 2026 · kubernetes.io
Security controls
Security mechanisms include Secrets, Pod security standards, RuntimeClasses, network policies, admission controllers, and audit logging.Read 29 Sep 2026 · kubernetes.io
Storage
Kubernetes can automatically mount storage from local systems, public cloud providers, or network storage systems such as iSCSI or NFS.Read 29 Sep 2026 · kubernetes.io
Workloads
It supports stateless, stateful, and data-processing workloads that can run in containers.Read 29 Sep 2026 · kubernetes.io

Plans and prices

Kubernetes Free Open source platform; no price stated Read 29 Sep 2026 · kubernetes.io

Every Kubernetes plan and price →

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Supports stateless, stateful, and data-processing workloads.
  • Can roll back unhealthy application changes.
  • Supports manual or CPU-based automatic scaling.
  • Works with pluggable logging, monitoring, and alerting tools.

Limits

  • Does not include databases, message buses, or caches.
  • Does not include cluster storage systems as built-in services.
  • Self-hosted deployment requires users to operate a cluster.

Who it suits

Kubernetes suits teams that need to deploy, scale, and manage containerized workloads across local, cloud, or datacenter environments. It is also an option for teams prepared to operate a cluster or choose a managed service.

Verdict

Kubernetes provides workload orchestration, scaling, and rollout controls, with deployment options ranging from local machines to managed services. Teams should account for the application-level services it does not provide as built-ins.

Where Specifiction places it

Alternatives to KubernetesAll alternatives →