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Concepts

What is the Kubectl REST API

Andrios Robert

• 1 min read

The pod is running, but you need control now. Kubectl can do that. Its REST API is the direct line to every resource in your Kubernetes cluster. No decorations, no detours—raw HTTP calls that speak the language of the kube-apiserver.

What is the Kubectl REST API

Kubectl is the CLI for Kubernetes. Under the hood, it talks to the Kubernetes API server over REST. Every command—kubectl get pods, kubectl apply, kubectl delete—translates to HTTP requests: GET, POST, PUT, PATCH, DELETE. The Kubectl REST API is not a separate system; it is the Kubernetes API itself, accessed through kubectl or directly via curl, Postman, or custom code.

Core Endpoints

The Kubernetes REST API exposes endpoints for all object kinds:

  • /api/v1/pods for Pod operations
  • /apis/apps/v1/deployments for Deployments
  • /api/v1/namespaces for Namespace management

These endpoints respond with JSON. Structured, predictable, machine-friendly.

Authentication and Access

Kubectl uses your kubeconfig to authenticate to the REST API. The API server respects RBAC permissions. Service accounts and bearer tokens can be used for direct REST calls. TLS ensures secure communication. Without proper RBAC, requests will fail with 403 Forbidden.

Why Use Kubectl REST API Directly

  • Automate cluster tasks without shell scripts.
  • Integrate Kubernetes resources into CI/CD pipelines.
  • Build custom dashboards and tooling that query live cluster state.
  • Debug faster by hitting the API server with precise queries.

Example: Direct Pod Query

curl --header "Authorization: Bearer $TOKEN"\
 --insecure \
 https://$CLUSTER/api/v1/namespaces/default/pods

This returns the same data as kubectl get pods -n default, but without invoking kubectl at all.

Best Practices

  • Always use HTTPS.
  • Rotate tokens regularly.
  • Minimize API calls in loops; prefer watch endpoints for streaming updates.
  • Respect rate limits set by the API server.

Mastering the Kubectl REST API means mastering Kubernetes itself. It’s the most direct, most powerful interface your cluster offers.

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