Pods

Pods is a term used in multiple fields. In botany, a pod is a type of fruit containing seeds. In marine biology, a pod refers to a social group of whales, dolphins, or other cetaceans. In computing, a pod is a group of containers deployed together, most notably in Kubernetes. In consumer packaging, pods refer to single-serve capsules used for coffee or tea.

Seed pods are protective dry fruits that release seeds when mature. They can be dehiscent (opening along seams) or indehiscent. Examples include legumes such as peas and beans, siliques in the mustard family, and capsules as in poppies. The anatomy generally includes the pericarp, seeds, and sometimes specialized structures that aid dispersal.

A pod is a social unit of whales, dolphins, or porpoises. Pod size ranges from a few individuals to hundreds, depending on species and context. Members communicate with vocalizations and coordinate movement during feeding and migration. Pods may split or reform over time, and social bonds influence mating and care of offspring.

In Kubernetes, a Pod is the smallest deployable unit. A Pod encapsulates one or more containers that share a network namespace and storage volumes. Pods are generally ephemeral and are created, scaled, and managed by controllers such as Deployments or Jobs. They provide the execution environment for containers and enable cohesive workloads.

Coffee pods are sealed capsules for single-serve beverage preparation. They vary in size and material and must be compatible with specific machines. Tea pods follow a similar concept. Environmental considerations include waste and recyclability, with some pods marketed as compostable, biodegradable, or reusable.