Kubernetes is built around the concept of containers, which are lightweight, isolated, and portable environments for running applications and their dependencies. Containers package the application code, runtime, libraries, and configuration, providing consistency and easy deployment across different environments.

Kubernetes manages a cluster of machines called nodes, which host the containerized applications. The cluster consists of one or more master nodes for controlling the cluster and multiple worker nodes that run the containers. Kubernetes automates tasks like scheduling containers on nodes, scaling applications, and managing their lifecycle.

Pods are the basic building blocks in Kubernetes. A pod is a logical unit that encapsulates one or more containers and shared resources, such as network and storage. Containers within a pod share the same network namespace and can communicate with each other using localhost. Pods provide a cohesive environment for running related containers together.

Kubernetes provides networking capabilities to route traffic to the containers within pods. Services act as stable network endpoints that expose the containers to other applications or services within or outside the cluster. Kubernetes manages the load balancing and service discovery for efficient communication between pods.

Kubernetes allows applications to scale horizontally by adding or removing instances of containers based on resource utilization and demand. It supports automatic scaling based on defined metrics, ensuring that the application can handle increased traffic or workload without manual intervention.

Kubernetes uses a declarative approach, where the desired state of the application and its infrastructure is defined in configuration files or through the Kubernetes API. Kubernetes continuously monitors the current state and reconciles it with the desired state, ensuring that the application remains in the desired state even in the face of failures or changes.