Description: Taints in Kubernetes, also known as ‘taints’, are properties applied to nodes within a cluster. These properties prevent pods from being scheduled on a node unless the pods have matching tolerations. In other words, a taint acts as a filter that controls which pods can run on which nodes. This is particularly useful for managing resources and ensuring that certain workloads run on specific nodes, whether for performance, security, or hardware requirements. Taints allow cluster administrators to have more granular control over pod distribution, which can be crucial in production environments where efficiency and stability are paramount. Taints are defined by three components: key, value, and effect, where the effect can be NoSchedule, PreferNoSchedule, or NoExecute, each of which has different implications for how pods are scheduled in relation to taints. This functionality is an integral part of cluster management in Kubernetes, allowing for greater flexibility and control over the underlying infrastructure.
