Kubernetes

Kubernetes (k8s) is an open-source platform designed to automate the management of containerized applications across clusters of machines. It helps manage deployment, scaling, and operations with features like service discovery, load balancing, automated rollouts, and self-healing capabilities. 

Originally developed by Google, Kubernetes is now maintained by the Cloud Native Computing Foundation and supported by a global open-source community. It plays a central role in cloud-native development, enabling CI/CD workflows and hybrid cloud strategies. Kubernetes clusters consist of a control plane and nodes that run application pods. 

Popular use cases include managing microservices, enabling DevOps pipelines, and running scalable enterprise applications. It supports multiple container runtimes and integrates with public cloud services like AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud. As container usage grows, Kubernetes has become the de facto standard for orchestrating modern software infrastructure.