Understanding Kubernetes: Part 34 Liveness Probe

📢 If you’ve been following our Kubernetes series 2025, welcome back! For new readers, check out Part 33 Startup Probe

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What is a Liveness Probe in Kubernetes?

A Liveness Probe in Kubernetes is a diagnostic tool used to check if a pod is still running properly. It helps Kubernetes determine whether a pod is healthy and should continue running. If a pod fails its liveness probe, Kubernetes will automatically restart it to restore functionality, ensuring high availability for the application.

For example:

Imagine you have a web application running in a pod, and sometimes the application can enter an unresponsive state due to high load or a bug. By configuring a liveness probe, Kubernetes can periodically check if the application is still responding. If the liveness probe fails, Kubernetes will restart the pod, thereby minimizing downtime and ensuring the application remains available.

Liveness Probe Capabilities:

• Types of Checks: Liveness probes can use HTTP requests, TCP socket connections, or execute commands to check the health of a pod.