What is Kubernetes Ingress?

Kubernetes Ingress is a resource type that allows you to define routing rules for cluster-external requests to cluster-internal services. At first glance, the example above might seem complex, but once you understand the structure of an Ingress resource, it's surprisingly simple.

In essence, an Ingress maps URLs (hostname and path) to cluster-internal services. Its purpose is to define routing rules for external requests to internal services. This means that multiple domain names can be served by a single IP address, making it easy to expose endpoints like REST APIs, static content, or dynamic web frontends.

One of the key benefits of Kubernetes Ingress is its ability to apply routing rules quickly and easily. With traditional systems, changing or adding routing rules could take a long time, as they often had to be manually maintained. Kubernetes Ingress eliminates this complexity by allowing you to write your own routing rules and have them applied in seconds.

Another significant advantage of Kubernetes Ingress is its focus on security. Instead of having every single service accessible from the outside world, you can securely expose services using Ingress. This means that you don't need to assign an IP address to each service, which can be particularly useful when dealing with limited IP addresses.

Kubernetes Ingress also provides a way to consistently expose services, whether they serve internal purposes or are intended for a broader audience. By using Ingress, you can ensure that your services are secure and easily accessible from the outside world.

In summary, Kubernetes Ingress is a powerful resource type that simplifies the process of exposing cluster-internal services to the outside world while ensuring security and consistency. Its ability to apply routing rules quickly and easily makes it an attractive solution for modern software architectures that consist of many small units.

What is kubernetes ingress