kubernetes
n.n. an open-source system used to manage and automate software applications that run in containers. It helps computer programs stay running and scale up or down across many different servers.
n. an open-source container-orchestration system for automating software deployment, scaling, and management. Originally designed by Google, it facilitates the grouping of containers into logical units for easy discovery and management.
The team uses Kubernetes to manage their web applications.
By deploying Kubernetes, the company was able to automate the scaling of their servers during peak shopping hours.
Modern cloud-native architecture often relies on Kubernetes to abstract away the underlying hardware, allowing developers to focus on application logic rather than infrastructure maintenance.
Derived from the Ancient Greek word kubernētēs, meaning helmsman or pilot. The term shares a common root with the English word cybernetics.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Often abbreviated as K8s in technical documentation.
Last updated July 22, 2026