Kubernetes Services vs. Ingress: What You Need to Know.

Ever tried accessing a containerized application running inside Kubernetes and realized it wasn’t as simple as running a server on your local machine? Unlike traditional setups where an app binds to a port and is instantly reachable, Kubernetes operates in a world of dynamic, ever-changing pods. If a pod dies and gets recreated, it might get a new IP, breaking direct access. So, how do applications running inside a Kubernetes cluster communicate reliably? And how do we expose these applications to the outside world? This is where Kubernetes Services and Ingress come in. Services ensure that even if pods come and go, your application remains accessible via a stable endpoint. Ingress provides a smarter way to manage external access, acting as a traffic controller to route requests to the right service. In this article, we’ll break down Kubernetes Services and Ingress, explaining when and why you need them with practical examples. Let's dive in!

Feb 9, 2025 - 00:10

Kubernetes Services vs. Ingress: What You Need to Know.

Ever tried accessing a containerized application running inside Kubernetes and realized it wasn’t as simple as running a server on your local machine? Unlike traditional setups where an app binds to a port and is instantly reachable, Kubernetes operates in a world of dynamic, ever-changing pods. If a pod dies and gets recreated, it might get a new IP, breaking direct access.

So, how do applications running inside a Kubernetes cluster communicate reliably? And how do we expose these applications to the outside world? This is where Kubernetes Services and Ingress come in.

Services ensure that even if pods come and go, your application remains accessible via a stable endpoint.
Ingress provides a smarter way to manage external access, acting as a traffic controller to route requests to the right service.

In this article, we’ll break down Kubernetes Services and Ingress, explaining when and why you need them with practical examples. Let's dive in!