What Is the Best Way to Learn Kubernetes?

Key takeaways

• The best way to learn Kubernetes can vary depending on your learning goals and current skill level in containerization or cloud-native concepts.

• You can make use of the official Kubernetes tutorials to learn the basics of Kubernetes, such as creating clusters and deploying a Kubernetes container.

• To further your learning, you may also choose to take up courses listed in the online Kubernetes guide or documentation.

You can also explore courses and certification programs to help you learn Kubernetes. Read on to gain a deeper insight into the learning pathways for Kubernetes. If you’re ready to get your start right away, consider enrolling in the IBM Back-End Development Professional Certificate, where you can learn to deploy and scale applications using methodologies and tools, Docker, Kubernetes, microservices, and serverless functions.

Kubernetes basics

Kubernetes is an important technology for container orchestration, or managing, deploying, and scaling containers. A container is a software package that contains the elements the software needs to run, such as libraries, code, versions, runtime, system tools, and settings. Some cloud-native software can have hundreds of containers featuring microservices that allow the program to call for services as needed. You can use Kubernetes to run your applications both on-site and on public or hybrid clouds. Kubernetes also helps you store and manage sensitive data, including passwords and OAuth tokens.

Kubernetes is one of the leading providers of container orchestration services. As of 2026, over 196,000 companies use containerization tools such as Kubernetes and Docker to deploy, scale, and manage containerized applications to reduce errors and increase efficiency [1].

Kubernetes is software originally created by Google for managing containerized workloads. Google eventually made it open source and donated it to the Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF), a nonprofit member organization that hosts open-source cloud infrastructure. Across the industry, 30.1 percent of developers used Kubernetes in 2025, and 27.9 percent of developers reported they want to work with Kubernetes [2].

What skills make it easier to learn Kubernetes?

Kubernetes is closely tied to microservices and cloud-native development, which, along with containerization, are key concepts to learn. Having a foundational understanding of these three concepts can help you learn Kubernetes faster. Learn more about each concept in greater detail below.

Microservices

Microservices help package software into individual components with your firm’s own unique processes and storage. This is a flexible approach to developing IT infrastructure because it allows you to treat each component individually. For example, if you experience an issue to troubleshoot, it would affect only components in that microservice, and the rest of your program could still operate. You can develop each component in its own programming language or use a unique set of tools compared to other components, allowing you more flexibility in the technology your development project uses.

Microservices allow software developers to use aspects of other companies’ software, infrastructure, computing power, and more by allowing the original company to package those services and offer them through an application programming interface (API). For example, you may use your login information for Google or Facebook instead of creating a unique user ID for a website you want to access. Microservices allow the website you want to log into to use the user authentication architecture that Google or Facebook already has, instead of building and maintaining its own system from scratch.

Cloud-native development

Microservices and cloud-native development work together to allow you to access and package software components as microservices before deploying them to the cloud as a developer. A cloud-native stack also enables you to use cloud services such as tools for automation, infrastructure, provisioning, data storage, or networking capabilities. Cloud-native development offers many benefits, including the ability to use microservices to loosely connect the components of your development project so you can make adjustments or updates to one portion of your software without interrupting the entire program.

Containerization

Containerization is the process of packaging all of the technologies you need to run an app or program into a self-contained package that users can access on any computer without having to otherwise account for compatibility between the two. Containerization is the solution for microservices and cloud-native architecture because containers are portable and easy to scale, providing fast solutions for running each component of a program in its own environment. Containerization is an effective way to package information when it moves to and from the cloud or for programs such as connected devices and Internet of Things (IoT) systems.

Containerization, cloud-native development, and microservices work together to provide access to tools and solutions on the cloud, streamlining your tasks as a developer. Understanding how these concepts work together may make it easier for you to understand how a program like Kubernetes works to help you orchestrate your containers. A software development project might use hundreds of containers, which represents a large task for managing and deploying these containers. Kubernetes can help you automate tasks and optimize your container management, making it easier to get more done faster and scale operations as needed.

Kubernetes vs. Docker

While Kubernetes is a solution for orchestrating containers by deploying and managing containers that you can use to scale your operations as your needs grow, Docker is a tool you can use with Kubernetes to create containers, which you can then orchestrate in Kubernetes. Kubernetes and Docker are the leading solutions for creating and managing containers [1].

Read more: What Is The Best Way to Learn Docker?

The best way to learn Kubernetes based on your goals

You can find resources online to help you learn Kubernetes, but the best program for you will depend on what you already know and your learning goals. For example, if you already have some experience with containerization or cloud-native concepts and you want to learn specific tasks in Kubernetes, you may find the information you need in an online tutorial. If you want a broader range of Kubernetes knowledge as well as a foundational knowledge of cloud-native development, you may prefer a course or certification to help you learn the skills you need.

Kubernetes tutorials and documentation

One option for learning Kubernetes is to choose from tutorials, written courses, and Kubernetes documentation available online. The Kubernetes documentation contains basic tutorial modules that can help you learn how to create clusters, deploy a Kubernetes container, and scale and update your app. You can also find tutorials from companies such as Microsoft, which offers cloud services like Microsoft Azure, where you can use Kubernetes to manage your cloud-native development. This option might be best if you already have some knowledge of containerization and feel comfortable learning without the support of an instructor. For example, a tutorial may assume you’ve already set up and installed the proper environment for working with Kubernetes.

Kubernetes courses

You can also choose from the Kubernetes courses available online to help you learn fundamental Kubernetes concepts and how to use the program in a DevOps life cycle. These courses can help you learn Kubernetes concepts in a structured course format with the benefit of an instructor you can communicate with if you have questions or need help understanding the material. You can also stack courses into a larger credential. For example, you could complete a series of courses on Coursera to earn a Specialization. A few examples of courses and a Specialization you may consider include:

• Getting Started with Google Kubernetes Engine

• Kubernetes for the Absolute Beginners with Hands-on Labs

• Architecting with Google Kubernetes Engine Specialization

Kubernetes certification

You can also learn Kubernetes and validate your knowledge to potential employers with a Kubernetes certification. The Linux Foundation, a membership organization for development professionals and open-source technology, offers several certifications you can earn to develop skills in Kubernetes and to use Kubernetes for specific applications:

• Kubernetes and Cloud Native Associate (KCNA): Represents foundational knowledge of the Kubernetes and cloud-native ecosystem

• Kubernetes and Cloud Native Security Associate (KCSA): Represents foundational knowledge of the technology you can use to secure cloud-native applications

• Certified Kubernetes Application Developer (CKAD): Demonstrates your ability to design, build, and configure cloud-native apps using Kubernetes

• Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA): Represents your knowledge of installing, managing, and configuring Kubernetes clusters

• Certified Kubernetes Security Specialist (CKS): Validates your knowledge of the best practices of securing Kubernetes containers

Learn more about Kubernetes with our free resources

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• Structure your learning: Kubernetes Learning Roadmap: From Beginner to Expert

• Watch on YouTube: Your Quick Guide to Cloud Computing

• Read our Career Chat issue: Ready for a Tech Career? How to Choose Between IT and Cloud Support

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