What are Kubernetes Manifest Files? Examples & Best Practices

A Kubernetes manifest file is a text file that describes an object in the cluster using YAML or JSON format. Manifests are crucial for managing objects as they allow versioning configurations alongside code and declaratively applying them to the cluster. They provide several advantages over imperative commands, such as predictable configuration updates, versioning of objects, collaborative management, and facilitating automation in CI/CD pipelines. Key fields in manifests include apiVersion, kind, metadata, and spec. Manifests can be written for multiple objects in one file or across multiple files. Following best practices like checking for errors, organizing manifests, protecting against unintentional changes, documenting, using linters, and employing templating tools can improve the quality and maintainability of Kubernetes manifest files.