Azure Kubernetes Service

name: Azure Kubernetes Service
description: Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS) simplifies deploying a managed Kubernetes cluster in Azure by offloading the operational
  overhead to Azure. As a hosted Kubernetes service, Azure handles critical tasks, like health monitoring and maintenance.
accessModel:
  pricing: freemium
  onboarding: self-serve
  trial: false
  try_now: true
  public: false
  label: Freemium · Self-serve signup
  confidence: high
  source:
  - plans
  - authentication
  generated: '2026-07-22'
  method: derived
image: https://azure.microsoft.com/images/aks-icon.png
url: https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/services/kubernetes-service/
created: '2024-01-15'
modified: '2026-05-19'
specificationVersion: '0.18'
tags:
- Azure
- Cloud
- Containers
- DevOps
- Kubernetes
- Orchestration
apis:
- name: Azure Kubernetes Service Maintenance Configurations API
  description: REST API for managing planned maintenance configurations, used to configure when updates can be deployed to
    an AKS managed cluster.
  image: https://azure.microsoft.com/images/aks-icon.png
  humanURL: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/rest/api/aks/maintenance-configurations
  baseURL: https://management.azure.com
  tags:
  - Configuration
  - Kubernetes
  - Maintenance
  properties:
  - type: Documentation
    url: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/planned-maintenance
  - type: APIReference
    url: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/rest/api/aks/maintenance-configurations
  - type: Authentication
    url: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/concepts-identity
- name: Azure Kubernetes Service Snapshots API
  description: REST API for creating, updating, deleting, and managing node pool snapshots in AKS, including listing snapshots
    by resource group.
  image: https://azure.microsoft.com/images/aks-icon.png
  humanURL: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/rest/api/aks/snapshots
  baseURL: https://management.azure.com
  tags:
  - Backup
  - Kubernetes
  - Snapshots
  properties:
  - type: Documentation
    url: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/node-pool-snapshot
  - type: APIReference
    url: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/rest/api/aks/snapshots
  - type: Authentication
    url: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/concepts-identity
- name: Azure Kubernetes Service Private Endpoint Connections API
  description: REST API for managing private endpoint connections for AKS clusters, enabling secure private network access
    to the cluster API server.
  image: https://azure.microsoft.com/images/aks-icon.png
  humanURL: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/rest/api/aks/private-endpoint-connections
  baseURL: https://management.azure.com
  tags:
  - Kubernetes
  - Networking
  - Private Endpoints
  properties:
  - type: Documentation
    url: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/private-clusters
  - type: APIReference
    url: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/rest/api/aks/private-endpoint-connections
  - type: Authentication
    url: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/concepts-identity
- name: Azure Kubernetes Service Trusted Access Role Bindings API
  description: REST API for managing trusted access role bindings that give Azure services secure access to AKS API server
    using system-assigned managed identities.
  image: https://azure.microsoft.com/images/aks-icon.png
  humanURL: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/rest/api/aks/trusted-access-role-bindings
  baseURL: https://management.azure.com
  tags:
  - Kubernetes
  - Security
  - Trusted Access
  properties:
  - type: Documentation
    url: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/trusted-access-feature
  - type: APIReference
    url: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/rest/api/aks/trusted-access-role-bindings
  - type: Authentication
    url: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/concepts-identity
- name: Azure Kubernetes Service kubectl API
  description: Kubernetes API accessible via kubectl for cluster operations.
  humanURL: https://kubernetes.io/docs/reference/
  baseURL: https://{cluster-name}.{region}.azmk8s.io
  tags:
  - Cluster Management
  - Kubectl
  - Kubernetes
  properties:
  - type: Documentation
    url: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/kubernetes-walkthrough
  - type: APIReference
    url: https://kubernetes.io/docs/reference/kubernetes-api/
  - type: Authentication
    url: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/control-kubeconfig-access
  - type: GettingStarted
    url: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/tutorial-kubernetes-deploy-cluster
- aid: microsoft-azure-kubernetes-service:microsoft-azure-kubernetes-service-agent-pools-api
  name: Azure Kubernetes Service Agent Pools API
  description: Operations for managing agent pools (node pools) within AKS clusters
  humanURL: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/rest/api/aks/
  baseURL: https://management.azure.com
  tags:
  - Agent Pools
  properties:
  - type: OpenAPI
    url: openapi/microsoft-azure-kubernetes-service-agent-pools-api-openapi.yml
  - type: Documentation
    url: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/
  - type: JSONSchema
    url: json-schema/azure-kubernetes-service-cluster-schema.json
  - type: JSONLD
    url: json-ld/azure-kubernetes-service-context.jsonld
  - type: Authentication
    url: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/concepts-identity
  - type: Pricing
    url: https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/pricing/details/kubernetes-service/
  - type: RateLimits
    url: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/quotas-skus-regions
  - type: GettingStarted
    url: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/learn/quick-kubernetes-deploy-portal
  - type: ChangeLog
    url: https://github.com/Azure/AKS/blob/master/CHANGELOG.md
  - type: ReleaseNotes
    url: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/release-tracker
  - type: SDKs
    url: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/python/api/overview/azure/mgmt-containerservice-readme
  - type: SDKs
    url: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/javascript/api/overview/azure/container-service
  - type: SDKs
    url: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/api/overview/azure/resourcemanager.containerservice-readme
  - type: SDKs
    url: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/java/api/overview/azure/resourcemanager-containerservice-readme
  - type: SDKs
    url: https://pkg.go.dev/github.com/Azure/azure-sdk-for-go/sdk/resourcemanager/containerservice/armcontainerservice/v6
  - type: APIReference
    url: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/rest/api/aks/managed-clusters
  - type: GettingStarted
    url: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/learn/quick-kubernetes-deploy-cli
  - type: Documentation
    url: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/create-node-pools
  - type: APIReference
    url: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/rest/api/aks/agent-pools
  - type: GettingStarted
    url: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/create-node-pools
- aid: microsoft-azure-kubernetes-service:microsoft-azure-kubernetes-service-managed-clusters-api
  name: Azure Kubernetes Service Managed Clusters API
  description: Operations for managing AKS managed clusters
  humanURL: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/rest/api/aks/
  baseURL: https://management.azure.com
  tags:
  - Managed Clusters
  properties:
  - type: OpenAPI
    url: openapi/microsoft-azure-kubernetes-service-managed-clusters-api-openapi.yml
  - type: Documentation
    url: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/
  - type: JSONSchema
    url: json-schema/azure-kubernetes-service-cluster-schema.json
  - type: JSONLD
    url: json-ld/azure-kubernetes-service-context.jsonld
  - type: Authentication
    url: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/concepts-identity
  - type: Pricing
    url: https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/pricing/details/kubernetes-service/
  - type: RateLimits
    url: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/quotas-skus-regions
  - type: GettingStarted
    url: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/learn/quick-kubernetes-deploy-portal
  - type: ChangeLog
    url: https://github.com/Azure/AKS/blob/master/CHANGELOG.md
  - type: ReleaseNotes
    url: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/release-tracker
  - type: SDKs
    url: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/python/api/overview/azure/mgmt-containerservice-readme
  - type: SDKs
    url: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/javascript/api/overview/azure/container-service
  - type: SDKs
    url: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/api/overview/azure/resourcemanager.containerservice-readme
  - type: SDKs
    url: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/java/api/overview/azure/resourcemanager-containerservice-readme
  - type: SDKs
    url: https://pkg.go.dev/github.com/Azure/azure-sdk-for-go/sdk/resourcemanager/containerservice/armcontainerservice/v6
  - type: APIReference
    url: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/rest/api/aks/managed-clusters
  - type: GettingStarted
    url: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/learn/quick-kubernetes-deploy-cli
  - type: Documentation
    url: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/create-node-pools
  - type: APIReference
    url: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/rest/api/aks/agent-pools
  - type: GettingStarted
    url: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/create-node-pools
maintainers:
- FN: Kin Lane
  email: kin@apievangelist.com
common:
- type: AgenticAccess
  url: agentic-access/microsoft-azure-kubernetes-service-agentic-access.yml
- type: DomainSecurity
  url: security/microsoft-azure-kubernetes-service-domain-security.yml
- type: Authentication
  url: authentication/microsoft-azure-kubernetes-service-authentication.yml
- type: OAuthScopes
  url: scopes/microsoft-azure-kubernetes-service-scopes.yml
- type: PostmanWorkspace
  url: https://www.postman.com/kinlaneapi/azure-kubernetes-service/overview
- type: Arazzo
  url: arazzo/azure-kubernetes-service-add-node-pool-workflow.yml
  name: Azure Kubernetes Service Add Node Pool and Poll
- type: Arazzo
  url: arazzo/azure-kubernetes-service-delete-machines-workflow.yml
  name: Azure Kubernetes Service Delete Node Pool Machines
- type: Arazzo
  url: arazzo/azure-kubernetes-service-provision-cluster-workflow.yml
  name: Azure Kubernetes Service Provision Cluster and Fetch Credentials
- type: Arazzo
  url: arazzo/azure-kubernetes-service-rotate-certificates-workflow.yml
  name: Azure Kubernetes Service Rotate Cluster Certificates
- type: Arazzo
  url: arazzo/azure-kubernetes-service-run-command-workflow.yml
  name: Azure Kubernetes Service Run Command on Cluster
- type: Arazzo
  url: arazzo/azure-kubernetes-service-scale-node-pool-workflow.yml
  name: Azure Kubernetes Service Scale Node Pool
- type: Arazzo
  url: arazzo/azure-kubernetes-service-start-cluster-workflow.yml
  name: Azure Kubernetes Service Start Cluster
- type: Arazzo
  url: arazzo/azure-kubernetes-service-stop-cluster-workflow.yml
  name: Azure Kubernetes Service Stop Cluster
- type: Arazzo
  url: arazzo/azure-kubernetes-service-upgrade-cluster-workflow.yml
  name: Azure Kubernetes Service Upgrade Cluster Control Plane
- type: Arazzo
  url: arazzo/azure-kubernetes-service-upgrade-node-image-workflow.yml
  name: Azure Kubernetes Service Upgrade Node Pool Image
- type: Portal
  url: https://portal.azure.com/
- type: GettingStarted
  url: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/learn/quick-kubernetes-deploy-portal
- type: CLI
  url: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/cli/azure/aks
- type: StatusPage
  url: https://status.azure.com/
- type: Support
  url: https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/support/options/
- type: Blog
  url: https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/topics/kubernetes/
- type: GitHubRepository
  url: https://github.com/Azure/AKS
- type: StackOverflow
  url: https://stackoverflow.com/questions/tagged/azure-aks
- type: Security
  url: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/concepts-security
- type: Compliance
  url: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/concepts-security#azure-policy
- type: Documentation
  url: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/
- type: Pricing
  url: https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/pricing/details/kubernetes-service/
- type: Signup
  url: https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/pricing/purchase-options/azure-account
- type: Login
  url: https://portal.azure.com/
- type: TermsOfService
  url: https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/support/legal/
- type: PrivacyPolicy
  url: https://privacy.microsoft.com/en-us/privacystatement
- type: ChangeLog
  url: https://github.com/Azure/AKS/blob/master/CHANGELOG.md
- type: ReleaseNotes
  url: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/release-tracker
- type: FAQ
  url: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/faq
- type: Training
  url: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/training/modules/intro-to-azure-kubernetes-service/
- type: YouTube
  url: https://www.youtube.com/c/MicrosoftAzure
- type: SpectralRules
  url: rules/azure-kubernetes-service-spectral-rules.yml
- type: Features
  data:
  - name: Managed Cluster Lifecycle
    description: Create, update, delete, start, and stop AKS managed clusters with full lifecycle management.
  - name: Agent Pool Management
    description: Create and manage node pools with configurable VM sizes, scaling, and upgrade policies.
  - name: Cluster Upgrades
    description: Upgrade Kubernetes versions and node images with controlled rollout and upgrade profiles.
  - name: Credential Management
    description: Retrieve admin, user, and monitoring credentials for cluster access and authentication.
  - name: Private Clusters
    description: Deploy private AKS clusters with private endpoint connections for secure API server access.
  - name: Maintenance Windows
    description: Configure planned maintenance windows to control when updates are applied to clusters.
  - name: Node Pool Snapshots
    description: Create and manage snapshots of node pools for backup and recovery scenarios.
  - name: Trusted Access
    description: Grant Azure services secure access to AKS API server using managed identities and role bindings.
  - name: Run Commands
    description: Execute commands on cluster nodes remotely through the AKS API without direct SSH access.
  - name: Auto-Scaling
    description: Automatically scale node pools based on workload demands with configurable auto-scaler profiles.
- type: UseCases
  data:
  - name: Microservices Deployment
    description: Deploy and manage microservices architectures with container orchestration and service mesh capabilities.
  - name: CI/CD Pipelines
    description: Integrate AKS with Azure DevOps and GitHub Actions for automated build, test, and deployment workflows.
  - name: Hybrid Cloud
    description: Run Kubernetes workloads across on-premises and Azure environments with Azure Arc integration.
  - name: Machine Learning
    description: Deploy and scale ML model serving infrastructure using AKS with GPU-enabled node pools.
  - name: Edge Computing
    description: Deploy containerized workloads to edge locations using AKS Edge Essentials and Azure IoT.
- type: Integrations
  data:
  - name: Azure Container Registry
    description: Pull container images from Azure Container Registry with managed identity authentication.
  - name: Azure Monitor
    description: Monitor cluster health, performance, and logs with Azure Monitor and Container Insights.
  - name: Azure Policy
    description: Enforce organizational standards and compliance with Azure Policy for Kubernetes.
  - name: Azure Active Directory
    description: Integrate with Azure AD for cluster authentication and role-based access control.
  - name: Azure DevOps
    description: Automate deployments to AKS using Azure Pipelines with native Kubernetes tasks.
include:
- name: Azure Container Registry APIs
  url: https://apis.io/apis/azure-container-registry
- name: Azure Monitor APIs
  url: https://apis.io/apis/azure-monitor