Kubernetes Architecture and Components - A Deep Dive

Kubernetes is an open-source container orchestration platform that automates the deployment, scaling, and management of containerized applications. At its core, Kubernetes consists of several components that work together to ensure the efficient and reliable operation of your applications. Understanding these components, their roles and how they fit together is the first step towards mastering kubernetes.

Kubernetes components

Kubernetes components are the essential building blocks that make up the Kubernetes architecture. They are responsible for various tasks, such as managing the cluster state, scheduling and orchestrating containers, exposing services, and providing additional functionality. Kubernetes components are grouped into three main categories: control plane components, nodes, and optional addons or extensions. Later, will explain each specific component that falls under these categories later. But for now, Let's take a closer look at each of these categories.

Kubernetes Control Plane

The Kubernetes control plane is the brain of the Kubernetes cluster, responsible for making global decisions and coordinating the activities of the worker nodes. It consists of several components that collectively manage the state of the cluster and make decisions about scheduling and deployment.

Kubernetes Nodes

Nodes are the physical or virtual machines that make up the Kubernetes cluster and run the pods. There are two types of nodes in a Kubernetes cluster:

• master nodes - host the control plane components and are responsible for managing the overall state of the cluster.

• worker nodes - workhorses of the cluster, that execute the actual workloads by running the pods assigned to them.

Kubernetes addons

Kubernetes addons and extensions are additional or optional components that provide extra functionality and enhance the capabilities of the Kubernetes cluster. These include (among other things) monitoring, logging and networking.

The following infographic provides a visual overview of the Kubernetes architecture and how its components fit together.

A Detailed Look at Each Kubernetes Component

For you to gain a deeper understanding of Kubernetes, let’s now explore the roles and responsibilities of each component in detail. In this section, will dive into the core components of the control plane, nodes, and addons/extensions.