Description: Nginx Ingress is an API object that manages external access to services in a Kubernetes cluster. It acts as an ingress controller that allows users to define how external requests are routed to internal services. Using routing rules, Ingress can direct traffic based on URL, host, or even HTTP method, providing great flexibility and control over access to applications. Additionally, Nginx Ingress offers advanced features such as load balancing, SSL termination, and authentication, making it an essential tool for traffic management in microservices environments. Its integration with Kubernetes enables developers and operations teams to deploy and scale applications efficiently, ensuring that traffic is directed correctly and that applications are accessible from the outside. In summary, Nginx Ingress is fundamental for optimizing communication between users and services in a Kubernetes cluster, enhancing user experience and application security.
History: Nginx was created by Igor Sysoev in 2002 as a high-performance web server and eventually became a popular reverse proxy server. The Ingress functionality was introduced into the Kubernetes ecosystem in 2015, and Nginx became one of the most widely used Ingress controllers due to its robustness and flexibility. As Kubernetes gained popularity, the need to efficiently manage external traffic led to the development of Ingress as a standard solution for request routing.
Uses: Nginx Ingress is primarily used to manage external access to applications deployed in a Kubernetes cluster. It allows administrators to define routing rules that direct traffic to different services based on URL or host. It is also used to implement security features such as SSL termination and authentication, as well as to load balance traffic among multiple instances of a service, thereby improving application availability and performance.
Examples: A practical example of Nginx Ingress is its use in various web applications where different routes (such as /products and /cart) are directed to different backend services. Another case is the implementation of an SSL certificate to secure communications between users and applications, using Ingress to manage SSL termination and redirect HTTP traffic to HTTPS.
