Kubernetes has revolutionized how modern applications are deployed and managed at scale, offering unprecedented flexibility and resilience. However, teams often face new challenges as complexity grows: How do we automate complex stateful apps? How do we effectively handle operational tasks like backups, upgrades, or configuration changes?

That’s where the Kubernetes Operator pattern comes into play.

This article explores exactly what Kubernetes operators are, why they’re critical to scaling your Kubernetes infrastructure, and how you can get started using them today.

What Is the Kubernetes Operator Pattern?

The operator pattern is a powerful Kubernetes concept designed to automate operational knowledge. Essentially, operators extend Kubernetes by encapsulating human operational logic into software, enabling the automation of complex application management tasks.

Think of an operator as a specialized “human-like” controller tailored to your application’s domain. It knows precisely how to deploy, scale, recover, and manage an application’s lifecycle—far beyond what standard Kubernetes resources provide out-of-the-box.

Key Components of the Operator Pattern

A typical k8s operator includes:

  • Custom Resource Definitions (CRDs): Extend Kubernetes API with new, domain-specific objects.
  • Custom Controllers: Continuously watch your CRDs and reconcile the actual state of your resources to the desired state.
  • Domain Knowledge Logic: Encapsulate domain-specific operations like database backups, scaling, and more.

Why Do We Need Kubernetes Operators?

Kubernetes operators become crucial when dealing with complex or stateful workloads (like databases, message queues, and caching systems) that aren’t easily managed through standard Kubernetes deployments or even Helm charts alone.

Key Benefits:

  • Automation of Complex Operations: Automate day-two operations like backups, restores, and upgrades.
  • Improved Reliability: Reduce human errors by codifying operational best practices.
  • Scalability and Repeatability: Deploy complex software consistently, no matter the environment.
  • Self-Healing Applications: Operators proactively manage the state of your applications, automatically correcting problems.

Kubernetes Operators vs. Kubernetes and Helm

You might wonder—why operators when we already have Kubernetes and Helm?

Helm is excellent for packaging and templating applications for Kubernetes. However, Helm typically handles day-one operations (deployment and upgrades). When it comes to managing complex lifecycle operations or reactive automation, the operator pattern truly shines.

Think of it this way:

  • Helm is about installation and updates.
  • Operators cover the entire lifecycle, including operations, self-healing, and domain-specific intelligence.

Many companies combine Kubernetes and Helm for packaging alongside operators for long-term management and automation.

OperatorHub: Making Operators Accessible

One of the best ways to discover and deploy trusted operators is through OperatorHub.io. Maintained by the Kubernetes community and Red Hat, OperatorHub provides a central repository of validated, community-created, and vendor-supported operators.

At OperatorHub, you can quickly search and deploy:

  • Databases like PostgreSQL or MongoDB operators
  • Monitoring operators (e.g., Prometheus Operator)
  • Message queues like Kafka operators
  • Storage operators and more!

This makes adopting the operator pattern straightforward and trustworthy.

How Can We Use Kubernetes Operators?

To start using an operator, follow these simple steps:

1. Choose Your Operator

Head to OperatorHub.io, browse the categories, and select an operator suited to your use case.

2. Install the Operator Lifecycle Manager (OLM)

If not installed yet, OLM helps manage operators easily:

				
					kubectl create -f https://github.com/operator-framework/operator-lifecycle-manager/releases/latest/download/install.yaml

3. Deploy the Operator

Deploy your chosen operator directly from OperatorHub or via the YAML manifest. Here’s an example of installing the Prometheus Operator from

				
					kubectl create -f https://operatorhub.io/install/prometheus.yaml

4. Use Custom Resources (CRDs)

Operators extend Kubernetes with new APIs called CRDs. You can now deploy your application by creating a CRD instance. Here’s a minimal example for deploying Prometheus using the Prometheus operator:

				
					apiVersion: monitoring.coreos.com/v1
kind: Prometheus
metadata:
  name: example-prometheus
  labels:
    prometheus: example
spec:
  replicas: 2
  serviceAccountName: prometheus-k8s
  serviceMonitorSelector: {}

Apply this CRD manifest with the command:

				
					kubectl apply -f prometheus-crd.yaml

The operator will now manage the Prometheus lifecycle automatically.

Real-World Use Cases for Kubernetes Operators

  • Databases & Stateful Apps: Operators seamlessly manage complex operations like backups, clustering, and failover.
  • Machine Learning & Big Data: Automate distributed systems (e.g., Apache Spark, Kafka) effortlessly.
  • Infrastructure as Code (IaC): Create self-service platforms where end-users deploy complex software with minimal effort.

Companies like Red Hat, Google, and Zalando already rely on Kubernetes operators to automate their infrastructure at scale.

Getting Started with Your Own Kubernetes Operator

Want something custom-made? Frameworks like Operator SDK or Kubebuilder help you easily create your own k8s operators, allowing you to codify your unique domain knowledge.

These tools offer templates and workflows, letting you focus on your business logic instead of low-level Kubernetes internals.

Conclusion

The Kubernetes operator pattern is a powerful extension of Kubernetes’ inherent capabilities. Whether automating complex stateful applications or simplifying day-two operations, operators provide a practical way to embed operational knowledge within your infrastructure.

Leveraging platforms like OperatorHub and effectively combining them with Kubernetes and Helm helps you streamline the deployment and management of sophisticated workloads, truly unlocking the full potential of your Kubernetes clusters.

Ready to level up your Kubernetes strategy? It’s time to embrace the operator pattern and simplify complex application management once and for all.

Need help implementing Kubernetes operators? Contact us—we specialize in Kubernetes and cloud-native infrastructure and can help you automate at scale.