When I started learning Kubernetes, I kept coming across terms like Cluster, Node, Pod, API Server, Scheduler, and Controller Manager.

At first, these concepts seemed confusing. What is the difference between a Node and a Pod? Where do containers actually run? And how do all these components work together?

In this article, I'll explain the fundamentals of Kubernetes architecture using simple examples.

1. What Is Kubernetes?

Kubernetes is an open-source platform for deploying, managing, and scaling containerized applications.

Imagine you have developed a REST API using Java and Spring Boot. You package the application into a container, but you still need to manage its deployment, availability, scaling, and networking.

Kubernetes helps automate many of these tasks.

For example, you can tell Kubernetes that you want three instances of your application running.…