Kubernetes Cluster Overview: Roles of Master and Worker Nodes

Kubernetes is an open-source container orchestration platform that automates the deployment, scaling, and management of applications. It works by grouping containers into logical units called pods and running them across a cluster of machines. Learn more in:Kubernetes - An Overview

The cluster follows a master - worker architecture to ensure high availability and scalability.

The master node (control plane) manages the cluster by handling scheduling, monitoring, and maintaining the desired state of applications. It runs core services such as the API server, etcd database, scheduler, and controller manager. Find out more in: About Kubernetes Master Node.

The worker nodes are the machines where the actual application workloads run. Each worker hosts pods and contains components like kubelet, container runtime, and kube-proxy for execution and networking. While the master decides what needs to run, the workers execute those instructions and run the applications. Together, master and worker nodes enable Kubernetes to provide automation, fault tolerance, and efficient resource utilization at scale. For a deeper understanding, see About Kubernetes Worker.

Kubernetes organizes workloads not just at the cluster and node level, but also within logical partitions called namespaces. Namespaces help divide cluster resources among teams or projects, ensuring better organization, access control, and resource management.