Kubernetes operator

/koo-ber-NEE-teez OP-er-ay-ter/ · noun · Development · Origin: 2016

Definitions

  1. A method of packaging, deploying, and managing a Kubernetes application using custom resources and custom controllers that encode operational knowledge into software. Operators automate complex lifecycle management tasks (backup, scaling, upgrading) that would otherwise require manual intervention. The PostgreSQL operator, for example, handles replication, failover, and backups automatically.

    In plain English: A program that automates the management of complex applications on Kubernetes, encoding expert knowledge about operations so the system can heal and scale itself.

    Example: The database operator automatically promoted a replica to primary when the health check failed, performed the DNS cutover, and paged the on-call — all in under 30 seconds.

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