The atomic unit – The Pod

Before you can run a complex, scaled-out application, you must first understand the single smallest unit Kubernetes can manage: the Pod. Think of the Pod as the atom of the Kubernetes universe; everything else—from scaling to self-healing—is built on top of it. In this first section, we will dissect this fundamental concept. We’ll explore why Pods can hold more than one container, how those containers share resources such as networking and storage, and how specialized Init Container and Sidecar Container enhance their power. Finally, we’ll dive into the Pod’s lifecycle and the health probes that keep it running, which is a critical topic for any troubleshooting interview. Master the Pod, and you’ve mastered the foundation of all Kubernetes workloads.

What is a Pod? (Core concept: multi-container pattern)

In Kubernetes, a Pod is more than just a wrapper for a container. It’s the smallest unit...