> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://notes.mikaelsamvelian.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://notes.mikaelsamvelian.com/devops-knowledge/containers/container-orchestration/kubernetes/pods.md).

# Pods

**Pods** are the smallest deployable units of computing that you can create and manage in Kubernetes.

A Pod is similar to a set of containers with shared namespaces and shared filesystem volumes.

<figure><img src="/files/UgzSjIAKw546Mb8dAaxF" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

**Init containers** are executed before both the sidecar and main application containers, and their successful completion is a prerequisite for the other containers to start. Init containers offer versatility, allowing actions like checking for application dependencies or configuring the environment for main and sidecar containers.

**Sidecar containers** run concurrently with the main application container and serve various purposes. For instance, in Istio, a sidecar container functions as a traffic proxy for the main container, and it can also handle tasks such as logging and monitoring.

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