Engineering Glossary

From fundamental principles to cutting-edge practices, this glossary covers the full spectrum of software engineering terminology.

DevOps
Cloud Computing
Git
Containerization & Orchestration

PCI DSS

Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard; information security standard for organizations that handle credit card data.
DevOps

PaaS (Platform-as-a-Service)

Category of cloud computing services providing a platform for developers to build, run, and manage applications.
DevOps

Packer

Tool for creating identical machine images for multiple platforms from a single source configuration.
DevOps

Page Load Time

Duration it takes for a web page to fully load in a user's browser, a crucial metric for web performance and user experience.
DevOps

Pagerduty

Digital operations management platform that helps organizations respond to critical incidents and manage on-call schedules effectively.
DevOps

Pair Programming

Agile software development technique where two programmers work together at one workstation.
DevOps

Papertrail

Cloud-hosted log management service for collecting, analyzing, and storing logs from applications, servers, and devices.
DevOps

Passwordless Authentication

Security method that allows users to access systems without traditional passwords, often using biometrics or security tokens.
DevOps

Paved Road

Standardized set of tools and processes for software development within an organization.
DevOps

Pen Testing

Penetration Testing; authorized simulated cyberattack on a computer system to evaluate its security.
DevOps

Penetration Testing

Method of evaluating the security of a computer system or network by simulating an attack from malicious outsiders.
DevOps

Performance Testing

Process of determining the speed, responsiveness, and stability of a computer, network, software program or device under workload.
DevOps

Perimeter Security

Defense strategy focusing on securing the boundaries of an organization's network from external threats and unauthorized access.
DevOps

Persistent Volume Claim (PVC)

Kubernetes resource that requests specific storage resources, allowing pods to access persistent storage in a cluster.
DevOps

Personally Identifiable Information (PII)

Any data that could potentially identify a specific individual, subject to strict privacy and security regulations.
DevOps

Pingdom

Website monitoring service that checks the availability and performance of websites and web applications, providing alerts and detailed reports.
DevOps

Pipeline

Series of automated processes for delivering software from development to production.
DevOps

Pipeline Management

Practice of overseeing and optimizing the processes involved in software delivery pipelines.
DevOps

Pivotal Cloud Foundry (PCF)

Open-source cloud application platform providing a choice of clouds, developer frameworks, and application services.
DevOps

Platform Engineering

Discipline of designing and building toolchains and workflows that enable self-service capabilities for software engineering organizations.
DevOps

Platform Team

Group responsible for building and maintaining the platform that other teams use to build and run applications.
DevOps

Platform as a Service (PaaS)

Cloud computing model where a third-party provider delivers hardware and software tools to users over the internet.
DevOps

Playbook

Pre-defined set of procedures to be carried out in response to specific DevOps events or incidents.
DevOps

Policy Decision Point (PDP)

Entity that makes authorization decisions for itself or other entities that request such decisions.
DevOps

Policy Enforcement Point (PEP)

Entity in a network that enforces security policies for resource access, typically working in conjunction with a Policy Decision Point.
DevOps

Policy as Code

Practice of defining and managing policies using code, enabling version control, automation, and consistent policy enforcement.
DevOps

Polymorphism

Ability of an object to take on many forms in object-oriented programming, enabling flexible and extensible code design.
DevOps

Poni

Tool for defining and running multi-container Docker applications, similar to Docker Compose but with additional features.
DevOps

Positive Security Model

Approach to security that specifies what is allowed and rejects everything else.
DevOps

Predictive Analytics

Use of data, statistical algorithms and machine learning techniques to identify the likelihood of future outcomes based on historical data.
DevOps

Private Cloud

Cloud computing services offered either over the Internet or a private internal network to select users.
DevOps

Product Owner

Person responsible for maximizing the value of the product resulting from the work of the development team.
DevOps

Production

Environment where software and other products are actually used by end users or consumers.
DevOps

Production Environment

Setting where software and other products operate to perform their intended functions for end users.
DevOps

Protected Health Information (PHI)

Any information about health status, provision of health care, or payment for health care that can be linked to a specific individual.
DevOps

Provisioning

Process of setting up IT infrastructure, including servers, networking, and storage.
DevOps

Provisioning Profile

File used to code sign iOS apps, containing information about the app ID, allowed devices, and other settings.
DevOps

ProxMox

Open-source server virtualization management platform that combines KVM hypervisor and LXC containers, offering a comprehensive solution.
DevOps

Public Cloud

Computing services offered by third-party providers over the public Internet, available to anyone who wants to use or purchase them.
DevOps

Pull Request (PR)

Mechanism in version control systems for notifying team members that a feature or fix is ready for review and integration.
DevOps

Pulp

Platform for managing repositories of software packages, facilitating the aggregation, mirroring, and distribution of software content.
DevOps

Puppet

Configuration management tool for centralizing and automating configuration management.
DevOps

Purple Team

Security team that functions as a combined red team (offensive) and blue team (defensive) to maximize effectiveness.
DevOps

Python

High-level, interpreted language known for readability and versatility, widely used in web development, data science, and other domains.
DevOps

Quality Gate

Set of threshold conditions that must be met in order to move on to the next stage in a software delivery process.
DevOps

Queue

Data structure that follows the First In First Out (FIFO) principle, commonly used in programming for task scheduling and data buffering.
DevOps

Quiescence

State of a system or component when it's inactive or in a state of rest, often used in database systems for consistent backups.
DevOps

Quota

Predefined limit on the amount of resources that can be consumed by a user, process, or system to prevent overuse and ensure fair allocation.
DevOps

RAML Files

RESTful API Modeling Language files used for describing RESTful APIs, facilitating API design and documentation.
DevOps

RASP (Runtime Application Self Protection)

Security technology that is built into an application to detect and prevent real-time attacks.
DevOps

RDS

Amazon Relational Database Service, a distributed relational database service by Amazon Web Services.
DevOps

RabbitMQ

Open source message broker software that implements the Advanced Message Queuing Protocol (AMQP).
DevOps

Radiator

Large, visible display of key project metrics and statuses, providing immediate feedback on the state of a project or system.
DevOps

Rate Limiting

Technique used to control the rate of requests sent or received by a network interface controller.
DevOps

React Native

Open-source mobile application development framework created by Facebook for building native apps using React and JavaScript.
DevOps

Real User Monitoring (RUM)

Passive monitoring technique that captures and analyzes every transaction of every user of a website or application.
DevOps

Real-time Big Data Analytics

Process of analyzing large volumes of data as it is generated, providing immediate insights for decision-making.
DevOps

Real-time Dashboard

Visual display providing immediate updates on key performance indicators and metrics for quick decision-making.
DevOps

Recovery with Rollforward

Technique in database systems to recover data by reapplying transactions from log files.
DevOps

Red Team

Group that plays the role of an adversary to provide security testing for an organization.
DevOps

Refactoring

Process of restructuring existing computer code without changing its external behavior.
DevOps

Regression Testing

Type of software testing to confirm that a recent program or code change has not adversely affected existing features.
DevOps

Release

Process of making a software product available for use, including planning, scheduling, and controlling the build through different stages.
DevOps

Release Automation

Use of automation in the software delivery process to deploy software across various environments.
DevOps

Release Management

Process of managing, planning, scheduling and controlling a software build through different stages and environments.
DevOps

Release Management Dashboard

Visual interface for tracking and managing software releases, providing insights into release progress and status.
DevOps

Release Orchestration

Coordination and management of complex software releases across multiple teams, tools, and environments.
DevOps

Release on Click by Business

Practice allowing business stakeholders to initiate releases with a simple action.
DevOps

Reliability

Ability of a system or component to perform its required functions under stated conditions for a specified period of time.
DevOps

Remote Code Execution (RCE)

Vulnerability that allows an attacker to run arbitrary code on a target machine.
DevOps

Render Time

Duration it takes for a browser to display the contents of a web page after receiving data from the server.
DevOps

Resilience

Ability of a system to withstand and recover from failures and disruptions, crucial for maintaining service availability.
DevOps

Response Time

Duration between a user's action and the system's reaction, a critical metric for measuring application performance and user experience.
DevOps

Rest API Security

Practices and measures taken to protect REST APIs from various security threats.
DevOps

Reverse Conway Maneuver

Organizational restructuring strategy aimed at aligning team structures with the desired software architecture.
DevOps

Rex

Configuration management and application deployment tool written in Perl, designed for simplicity and flexibility.
DevOps

Riemann

Monitoring system designed for distributed systems, focusing on collecting events from servers and applications for processing and analysis.
DevOps

Risk Assessment

Systematic process of evaluating potential risks and their impact on an organization, crucial for effective security management.
DevOps

Risk Management

Forecasting and evaluation of financial risks together with the identification of procedures to avoid or minimize their impact.
DevOps

Role-based Access Control (RBAC)

Approach to restricting system access to authorized users based on their role within an organization.
DevOps

Rollback

Process of restoring a database, program, or system to a previous state, often used when issues arise after an update or change.
DevOps

Rolling Deployments

Deployment strategy where new versions of an application are gradually rolled out to a subset of users.
DevOps

Rolling Update

Deployment strategy where an application's containers are updated in a rolling fashion, one after the other.
DevOps

Root Cause Analysis

Method of problem solving used for identifying the root causes of faults or problems.
DevOps

Rubberducking

Debugging technique where a programmer explains the code line-by-line to an inanimate object.
DevOps

Rudder

Open-source IT automation and compliance tool that helps manage large-scale, complex IT infrastructures across various environments.
DevOps

Run From Your Repository

Practice of executing code directly from a version control repository, often used in continuous integration workflows.
DevOps

Runbook

Compilation of routine procedures and operations that a system administrator or operator carries out.
DevOps

Runbooks

Collection of procedures and operations that describe how to run a computer system or network, crucial for IT operations.
DevOps

Rundeck

Open-source operations management and automation platform, designed to streamline routine and ad-hoc tasks across various systems.
DevOps

Runner

Component in CI/CD systems responsible for executing jobs and reporting results back to the CI/CD server, often customizable for different environments.
DevOps

S3 (Amazon Simple Storage Service)

Scalable object storage service from AWS, designed for durability, availability, and performance across various use cases.
DevOps

SAML

Security Assertion Markup Language; XML-based open-standard for exchanging authentication and authorization data.
DevOps

SAST

Static Application Security Testing; method of testing applications without executing them.
DevOps

SDK

Software Development Kit; set of software development tools for creating applications for a specific platform.
DevOps

SIEM

Security Information and Event Management; provides real-time analysis of security alerts.
DevOps

SIEM Environment

Infrastructure and configuration supporting a Security Information and Event Management system for comprehensive security monitoring.
DevOps

SIEM Solutions

Software products providing security information and event management capabilities.
DevOps

SIEM Tools

Software used for collecting, analyzing, and reporting on log data for security purposes.
DevOps

SIEM-log

Log data specifically collected, analyzed, and managed within a Security Information and Event Management system for security monitoring.
DevOps
stash entry

stash entry

A single set of stashed changes in Git, which can be reapplied later to the working directory.
status checks

status checks

Automated tests or processes that run when changes are proposed in a Git repository, ensuring code quality and compatibility.
subscription

subscription

Notifications or updates a user receives about activity in Git repositories they're interested in or contributing to.
superproject

superproject

The main Git repository that contains submodules, managing references to specific versions of nested repositories.
symref

symref

A symbolic reference in Git that points to another reference, most commonly used for HEAD pointing to the current branch.
tag object

tag object

A Git object containing metadata about a tag, including the tagger, date, and optional message.
team

team

A group of users on a Git platform with shared access permissions to repositories within an organization.
team maintainer

team maintainer

A user with administrative privileges for managing a team's membership and access rights in a Git organization.
timeline

timeline

A chronological display of events and activities in a Git repository or user profile on hosting platforms.
topic branch

topic branch

A short-lived Git branch created to develop a specific feature or fix a particular issue.
topics

topics

Keywords or categories assigned to Git repositories to help users discover related projects on hosting platforms.
traffic graph

traffic graph

A visual representation of visitor activity and clone statistics for a Git repository on hosting platforms.
transfer

transfer

The process of moving Git objects between repositories during push, fetch, or clone operations.
tree

tree

A Git object representing a directory structure, containing references to blobs (files) and other trees (subdirectories).
tree object

tree object

A Git object that stores the hierarchy of files and directories in a repository at a specific point in time.
tree-ish (also treeish)

tree-ish (also treeish)

A Git term referring to an object that resolves to a tree, such as a commit, tag, or tree.
unborn

unborn

A state of a Git branch that has no commits yet, typically seen when initializing a new repository.
unmerged index

unmerged index

The state of the Git index containing conflicting changes from different branches during a merge operation.
unreachable object

unreachable object

A Git object not accessible from any reference, potentially subject to garbage collection if not recovered.
upstream branch

upstream branch

The remote branch that a local branch is set to track, used as a reference for pull and push operations.
user

user

An individual account on a Git platform, associated with personal repositories and contributions.
user-to-server request

user-to-server request

An authenticated request from a Git client to a server, typically for operations like push or fetch.
username

username

The unique identifier for a user account on Git platforms, used for authentication and mention notifications.
visible team

visible team

A team in a Git organization that is visible to all members of the organization, as opposed to secret teams.
watch

watch

A feature allowing users to receive notifications about activity in Git repositories they're interested in.
watching notifications

watching notifications

Alerts received for all notable events in a watched Git repository, including issues, pull requests, and releases.
web notifications

web notifications

Alerts displayed on Git platforms' web interfaces, notifying users of relevant activity or mentions.
working area

working area

The directory on your local machine where you modify files before staging and committing them in Git.
working tree

working tree

The set of files and directories in your project that are currently checked out and available for editing.
worktree

worktree

A Git feature allowing multiple working directories to be associated with a single repository.
write access

write access

Permission to make changes to a Git repository, including pushing commits and modifying branches.

3D Stacked Memory for Cloud Servers

High-density memory architecture using vertically stacked chips, enhancing performance and capacity in cloud server hardware.

5G Cloud

Cloud infrastructure optimized for 5G networks, supporting high-speed, low-latency services and applications.

5G Network Slicing

Technique to create multiple virtual networks on a shared physical 5G infrastructure, each optimized for specific use cases.

5G and Edge Computing

Integration of 5G networks with edge computing to enable low-latency, high-bandwidth applications closer to end-users.

6G Cloud Integration

Future convergence of 6G networks with cloud computing, promising ultra-high speeds and advanced capabilities.

ACID Compliance

Database transaction properties (Atomicity, Consistency, Isolation, Durability) ensuring data integrity in cloud environments.

AI Ethics Compliance Tools

Software ensuring AI systems adhere to ethical guidelines and regulations in cloud deployments.

AI Ethics and Bias Detection Tools

Software for identifying and mitigating ethical issues and biases in AI models deployed in cloud environments.

AI Ethics and Governance Tools

Solutions for managing ethical considerations and regulatory compliance in cloud-based AI systems.

AI Governance Frameworks

Structured approaches for managing AI development, deployment, and use in cloud environments.

AI Model Governance Platforms

Comprehensive solutions for managing, monitoring, and controlling AI models in cloud-based systems.

AI Model Interpretability Services

Cloud-based tools for explaining and understanding the decision-making processes of AI models.

AI Model Interpretability Tools

Software for analyzing and explaining AI model decisions, crucial for transparency in cloud AI services.

AI Model Marketplaces

Cloud platforms for discovering, sharing, and monetizing pre-trained AI models and algorithms.

AI Model Monitoring and Drift Detection

Tools for tracking AI model performance and identifying deviations from expected behavior in cloud environments.

AI Model Versioning and Governance

Systems for managing different versions of AI models and enforcing governance policies in cloud deployments.

AI-Assisted Coding Platforms

Cloud-based development environments that use AI to assist programmers in writing and optimizing code.

AI-Augmented Analytics

Integration of AI capabilities into data analytics processes in cloud environments for enhanced insights.

AI-Driven Capacity Planning

Use of AI algorithms to predict and optimize resource allocation in cloud infrastructures.

AI-Driven Cloud Optimization

Application of AI techniques to improve efficiency, performance, and cost-effectiveness of cloud resources.

AI-Driven Cloud Resource Allocation

Automated distribution of cloud resources using AI to optimize performance and cost-efficiency.

AI-Driven Cloud Service Composition

AI-based automation of cloud service selection and integration for complex workflows.

AI-Driven Code Generation

Automated creation of source code using AI models, often integrated into cloud development platforms.

AI-Driven Data Classification

Automated categorization and labeling of data using AI algorithms in cloud storage and processing systems.

AI-Driven Network Optimization

Use of AI to improve network performance, efficiency, and security in cloud environments.

AI-Driven Resource Allocation

Intelligent distribution of computing resources in cloud environments using AI algorithms.

AI-Driven Security Information and Event Management (SIEM)

Enhanced SIEM systems using AI for improved threat detection and response in cloud environments.

AI-Driven Threat Detection

Use of AI algorithms to identify and analyze potential security threats in cloud systems.

AI-Driven Threat Hunting

Proactive search for hidden threats in cloud environments using AI-powered analytics and automation.

AI-Optimized Cloud Hardware

Cloud infrastructure components designed or configured to enhance AI workload performance.

AI-Optimized Databases

Database systems tailored for AI workloads, often featuring in-memory processing and distributed architectures.

AI-Powered Anomaly Detection

Use of AI algorithms to identify unusual patterns or behaviors in cloud systems and data.

AI-Powered Integration

Intelligent automation of data and application integration processes in cloud environments using AI.

AI-as-a-Service

Cloud-based offering of AI capabilities, allowing businesses to leverage AI without extensive in-house expertise.

AI-as-a-Service (AIaaS)

Cloud-based AI capabilities offered as a service, enabling easy integration of AI into applications.

AIOps

Application of AI for automating and enhancing IT operations management in cloud environments.

AIOps Platforms

Integrated solutions leveraging AI for automated monitoring, analysis, and management of cloud IT operations.

AIOps for Predictive Maintenance

Use of AI-driven analytics to forecast and prevent system failures in cloud infrastructure.

API Security Gateway

Service that protects APIs in cloud environments by managing access, monitoring traffic, and preventing attacks.

API Security Gateways

Dedicated services for securing and managing APIs in cloud environments, including access control and threat protection.

API-First Development

Design approach prioritizing API creation before implementation, common in cloud-native application development.

API-Led Connectivity

Integration strategy using purpose-built APIs to connect data, devices, and applications in cloud ecosystems.

AR Cloud

Persistent 3D digital content overlaid on the physical world, accessible via cloud infrastructure for augmented reality applications.

AR/VR Analytics

Cloud-based tools for analyzing user behavior and performance in augmented and virtual reality environments.

AR/VR Collaboration Platforms

Cloud-hosted services enabling multi-user interaction in shared augmented or virtual reality spaces.

AR/VR Content Delivery Network

Specialized CDN optimized for delivering AR/VR content with low latency and high bandwidth.

AR/VR Development Platforms

Cloud-based tools and services for creating, testing, and deploying augmented and virtual reality applications.

ARM Templates (Azure)

JSON-based files defining infrastructure and configuration for Azure resource deployment.

Adaptive User Interfaces for Cloud Services

Dynamic UIs that adjust based on user behavior, device capabilities, and context in cloud applications.

Adversarial Machine Learning Detection

Techniques to identify and mitigate attacks on ML models in cloud-based AI systems.

Alerting and Notification

Systems for informing administrators or users about important events or issues in cloud environments.

Algorithmic Auditing

Process of examining AI algorithms for bias, errors, or unintended consequences in cloud-based systems.

Ambient Computing Interfaces for Cloud

Seamless, context-aware interaction methods for accessing cloud services in IoT environments.

Anomaly Detection Systems

Tools for identifying unusual patterns or behaviors in cloud systems, often using machine learning techniques.

Application-Aware Networking

Network management approach that optimizes performance based on specific application requirements in cloud environments.

Approximate Query Processing

Technique for quickly estimating query results in large-scale cloud databases, trading accuracy for speed.

Archive Storage (e.g., Amazon Glacier, Azure Archive Storage)

Low-cost cloud storage for infrequently accessed data with longer retrieval times, e.g., Amazon Glacier, Azure Archive Storage.

Artifact Repository

Cloud-based storage for software build outputs, dependencies, and related metadata.

Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) as a Service

Hypothetical cloud offering of human-level AI capabilities across various domains.

Artificial General Intelligence Research Platforms

Cloud-based environments for developing and testing advanced AI systems approaching human-level intelligence.

Audit Logging

Systematic recording of actions and events in cloud systems for security and compliance purposes.

Audit Trails

Chronological records of system activities for reconstructing and examining the sequence of events in cloud environments.

Augmented Analytics

Integration of machine learning and natural language processing in cloud-based data analytics workflows.

Augmented Reality (AR) Cloud

Shared, persistent digital content overlaid on the physical world, accessible via cloud infrastructure.

Augmented Reality Cloud Interfaces

Cloud-based systems for managing and delivering AR content and experiences, enabling scalable AR applications.

Augmented Reality Cloud Rendering

Cloud-powered generation of AR graphics and content, offloading processing from end-user devices.

Auto Scaling Groups

Collections of EC2 instances that automatically adjust capacity based on defined conditions.

Auto-scaling

Automatic adjustment of cloud resources to match workload demands, ensuring optimal performance and cost-efficiency.

AutoML

Automated machine learning processes for model selection, hyperparameter tuning, and feature engineering in cloud environments.

AutoML in the Cloud

Cloud-based services automating the machine learning pipeline from data preparation to model deployment and monitoring.

Automated AI Pipeline Optimization

AI-driven tools for improving efficiency and performance of machine learning workflows in the cloud.

Automated Cloud Governance Enforcement

Systems that automatically implement and maintain cloud resource policies and compliance.

Automated Compliance Monitoring

Continuous, AI-driven assessment of cloud systems against regulatory and security standards.

Automated Data Discovery

AI-powered tools for identifying, categorizing, and mapping data assets in cloud environments.

Automated Data Governance

AI-driven systems for managing data quality, security, and compliance in cloud environments.

Automated Data Wrangling Services

Cloud-based tools using AI to clean, transform, and prepare data for analysis, streamlining data preparation processes.

Automated Feature Engineering

AI-powered generation and selection of features for machine learning models in cloud environments.

Automated Incident Response Orchestration

AI-driven coordination of security incident detection and resolution in cloud systems, automating response workflows.

Automated Machine Learning (AutoML)

Cloud services that automate the process of creating and optimizing machine learning models, from data prep to deployment.

Automated Machine Learning (AutoML) Platforms

Cloud-based systems that automate the end-to-end machine learning model development process, including feature engineering and model selection.

Automated Penetration Testing

AI-driven tools for simulating cyberattacks to identify vulnerabilities in cloud systems and applications.

Automated Threat Modeling

AI-powered analysis of cloud architectures to identify potential security risks and attack vectors.

Autonomous Systems in the Cloud

Self-managing, self-healing cloud services requiring minimal human intervention, leveraging AI for operations.

Azure Edge Zones

Ultra-low latency edge computing extensions of Azure for 5G networks, bringing cloud resources closer to users.

Azure Policy

Service for creating, assigning, and managing policies to control Azure resources and ensure compliance.

B2B Integration Platforms

Cloud-based services facilitating data exchange and process integration between business partners.

Backend for Frontend (BFF) Pattern

Architectural approach creating backend services tailored to specific frontend application needs in cloud environments.

Bare Metal Server

Physical server dedicated to a single tenant, offering direct hardware access in cloud environments.

Bare Metal Servers

Dedicated physical servers without virtualization, offered as a cloud service for high-performance workloads.

Batch Processing (e.g., AWS Batch, Azure Batch)

Execution of series of jobs without user interaction, often for large-scale data processing in the cloud (e.g., AWS Batch, Azure Batch).

Big Data Clusters

Distributed computing environments for processing and analyzing massive datasets in the cloud.

Billing Dashboard

Interface for monitoring and managing cloud service usage and costs, providing detailed breakdowns and forecasts.

Biocomputing in the Cloud

Use of cloud resources for computational biology and genomics research, enabling large-scale analysis and modeling.

Biodiversity Impact Assessment for Cloud Facilities

Evaluation of cloud data center effects on local ecosystems and wildlife to ensure sustainable operations.

Block Storage

Cloud storage that provides fixed-size raw storage volumes, typically used for databases or file systems.

Block Storage (e.g., Amazon EBS, Azure Disk Storage)

Cloud services providing persistent block-level storage volumes for use with compute instances.

Blockchain Analytics

Cloud-based tools for analyzing and visualizing blockchain data and transactions, offering insights into network activity.

Blockchain Databases

Distributed databases using blockchain technology for enhanced security and immutability in cloud environments.

Blockchain Governance Tools

Software for managing and enforcing rules, permissions, and consensus mechanisms in blockchain networks deployed on cloud platforms.

Blockchain Integration Services

Cloud-based solutions for connecting blockchain networks with existing enterprise systems and applications.

Metrics Pipeline

System for collecting, processing, and storing performance metrics from containerized applications and infrastructure.

Metrics Server

Kubernetes add-on that collects resource metrics from kubelets for use in autoscaling and monitoring.

Metrics Server Optimization

Techniques for improving the performance and efficiency of the Kubernetes Metrics Server for better monitoring.

MicroK8s

Lightweight, CNCF-certified Kubernetes distribution designed for developer workstations, IoT devices, and CI/CD.

Microservices Chassis Pattern

Reusable base structure for building microservices, providing common functionalities like logging and monitoring.

MinIO Object Storage

High-performance, S3-compatible object storage system, often used for persistent storage in container environments.

Mount Propagation

Feature allowing containers to share mounted volumes, enabling advanced storage scenarios in Kubernetes.

Multi-Container Pod Patterns

Design patterns for deploying multiple containers within a single pod, such as sidecar, ambassador, or adapter patterns.

Multi-architecture Images

Container images supporting multiple CPU architectures, enabling deployment flexibility across diverse hardware.

Multi-cluster Management

Tools and practices for administering and orchestrating multiple Kubernetes clusters as a unified system.

Multi-cluster Networking

Technologies and configurations enabling network connectivity and service discovery across multiple Kubernetes clusters.

Multi-cluster Orchestration

Coordinated management and deployment of containerized applications across multiple Kubernetes clusters.

Multi-cluster Service Discovery

Mechanisms for locating and accessing services deployed across multiple Kubernetes clusters.

Multi-cluster Service Mesh

Implementation of service mesh functionalities spanning multiple Kubernetes clusters for unified traffic management.

Multi-stage Builds

Dockerfile technique using multiple stages to create optimized, smaller container images by separating build and runtime environments.

Multitenancy Benchmarks

Performance and isolation tests for evaluating the effectiveness of multi-tenant Kubernetes cluster configurations.

Multus

CNI plugin enabling attachment of multiple network interfaces to pods in Kubernetes, supporting advanced networking scenarios.

Multus CNI

Container Network Interface plugin allowing multiple CNI plugins to be used simultaneously, enabling multi-network support for pods.

Multus CNI for Multiple Networks

Use of Multus to attach pods to multiple networks, enabling complex networking scenarios in Kubernetes.

Mutating Webhooks

Admission controller webhooks that can modify resource requests before they are persisted, enabling dynamic resource manipulation.

Mutual TLS (mTLS)

Security protocol ensuring both client and server authenticate each other, commonly used in service mesh implementations.

NIST SP 800-190

Observability platform offering performance monitoring and analytics for containerized applications and infrastructure.

NSM (Network Service Mesh)

Cloud-native approach to solving L2/L3 use cases and service chain provisioning in Kubernetes.

NUMA-aware Scheduling

Kubernetes feature considering Non-Uniform Memory Access topology for optimal pod placement.

Namespace

Kubernetes abstraction for creating multiple virtual clusters within a physical cluster, providing a scope for names and resources.

Namespaces

Kubernetes feature for partitioning clusters into virtual sub-clusters, enabling resource isolation and access control.

Network Address Translation (NAT)

Process of modifying network address information in packet headers for routing in container networks.

Network Function Virtualization (NFV)

Concept of replacing dedicated network appliances with virtualized functions, often containerized.

Network Microsegmentation

Security technique dividing networks into isolated zones, enhancing container and microservices security.

Network Policies

Kubernetes resources specifying how groups of pods are allowed to communicate with each other and other network endpoints.

Network Policy

Specification of how groups of pods are allowed to communicate with each other and other network endpoints.

Network Policy Logging

Feature enabling logging of allowed and denied network connections based on Kubernetes Network Policies.

Network Segmentation

Practice of dividing a network into smaller segments or subnets, improving security and performance in container environments.

Network Service Mesh (NSM)

Cloud-native solution providing layer 2/3 network services to Kubernetes workloads, enhancing networking capabilities.

NetworkPolicy

Kubernetes resource defining rules for pod-to-pod and pod-to-external communication, implementing network segmentation.

NeuVector for Container Firewall

Security platform providing real-time container firewall, vulnerability management, and compliance for Kubernetes.

New Relic Container Monitoring

Observability platform offering performance monitoring and analytics for containerized applications and infrastructure.

Node

Basic unit of a distributed application in many systems, often referring to individual machines or processes.

Node Affinity

Kubernetes feature allowing pods to be scheduled on nodes with specific characteristics based on labels.

Node Authorization

Kubernetes authorization mode controlling kubelet access to the API server, enhancing cluster security.

Node Auto-provisioning

Feature automatically adjusting the number of nodes in a Kubernetes cluster based on workload demands.

Node Exporter

Prometheus exporter for hardware and OS metrics exposed by *NIX kernels, used for node-level monitoring in Kubernetes.

Node Feature Discovery

Kubernetes add-on detecting hardware features and system configuration, facilitating hardware-aware scheduling.

Node Name

Unique identifier for a node in a Kubernetes cluster, used in various operations and configurations.

Node Pressure Eviction

Process of removing pods from a node when it experiences resource pressure, ensuring stability.

Node Problem Detector

Kubernetes add-on monitoring and reporting node health issues, enhancing cluster reliability.

Node Restriction Admission Plugin

Kubernetes plugin limiting node and pod modifications to increase security and prevent privilege escalation.

Node Selector

Kubernetes feature for constraining pods to nodes with specific labels, enabling basic scheduling control.

Node Upgrade Process

Procedure for updating the software stack on Kubernetes nodes while minimizing disruption to running workloads.

Node-level Logging

Capture and management of system and container logs at the node level in a Kubernetes cluster.

NodeLifecycleController

Kubernetes controller managing the lifecycle of nodes, handling node registration and decommissioning.

NodeLocal DNSCache

Kubernetes add-on running a dns caching agent on cluster nodes to improve DNS performance.

NodePort

Kubernetes service type exposing the service on each node's IP at a static port, enabling external access.

NodePort Services

Kubernetes services that expose applications on a static port on each node, facilitating external access.

Non-root User Containers

Security practice of running containers with non-privileged users to reduce potential attack surface.

North-South Traffic

Network communication between external clients and services within a Kubernetes cluster, typically through ingress.

Notary

Open-source project providing secure content distribution and verification for container registries.

Notary for Content Trust

Implementation of Notary to ensure the integrity and authenticity of container images, enhancing supply chain security.

OCI Distribution Spec

Open Container Initiative specification defining an API protocol for distributing container images.

OCI Image Spec

Open Container Initiative specification defining the format of container images, ensuring interoperability.

OCI Image Specification

Detailed standard for container image format, ensuring interoperability between different container technologies.

OCI Runtime Specification

Standard defining the configuration, execution environment, and lifecycle of containers, ensuring compatibility.

OOM Killer

Linux kernel mechanism for terminating processes when the system runs out of memory, affecting container reliability.

OVN-Kubernetes for Open Virtual Networking

Integration of Open Virtual Network with Kubernetes for advanced software-defined networking.

Octant Dashboard

Open-source developer-centric web interface for visualizing Kubernetes cluster state and workloads.

Open Container Initiative (OCI) Runtime Spec

Industry standard for container runtime implementations, ensuring compatibility across platforms.

Open Policy Agent (OPA)

General-purpose policy engine for cloud-native environments, often used for Kubernetes admission control.

Open Policy Agent (OPA) Constraint Framework

OPA-based system for declaring, managing, and enforcing policies in Kubernetes environments.

OpenEBS

Container-attached storage solution providing persistent storage for stateful workloads in Kubernetes.

OpenEBS Local PV

OpenEBS feature for provisioning local persistent volumes, optimizing performance for I/O intensive workloads.

OpenFaaS

Framework for building serverless functions with Docker and Kubernetes, simplifying the deployment of event-driven workloads.

OpenID Connect Tokens

JSON Web Tokens used for authentication in Kubernetes, often integrated with external identity providers.

OpenTelemetry Collector

Vendor-agnostic way to receive, process, and export telemetry data in various formats for observability.

OpenTracing

Vendor-neutral API for distributed tracing, facilitating the instrumentation of microservices for observability.

OpenYurt

Kubernetes extension designed for edge computing scenarios, enabling efficient management of edge nodes.

Operator Lifecycle Manager (OLM)

Kubernetes extension that oversees installation, upgrades, and management of Operators in a cluster.

Operator Metering

Feature for usage reporting and billing in Kubernetes clusters, often used with Operators.

Operator Metrics

Performance and health indicators exposed by Kubernetes Operators for monitoring and alerting.

Operator Pattern

Kubernetes extension pattern for automating application-specific operational knowledge and tasks.

Operator SDK

Framework for building Kubernetes Operators, simplifying the development process with high-level APIs.

Operator Scorecard

Tool for validating Operators against best practices and providing suggestions for improvements.

OperatorHub

Public registry for finding and sharing Kubernetes Operators, facilitating discovery and distribution.

Out-of-Tree Plugins

Kubernetes plugins developed and maintained outside the main Kubernetes repository, enabling extensibility.

Outbox Pattern for Reliable Messaging

Design pattern ensuring consistency between database and message broker in distributed systems.

Outlier Detection

Process of identifying abnormal behavior in containerized applications or infrastructure for troubleshooting.

Overhead

Additional resource consumption introduced by container runtimes and orchestration systems.

Overlay Filesystems

Layered filesystem used by container runtimes to efficiently manage image layers and container writes.

Overlay Networks

Virtual networks created on top of existing networks, enabling container-to-container communication across hosts.

Parent Image

Base container image upon which other images are built, providing foundational layers for child images.

Peer Authentication

Service mesh feature ensuring mutual authentication between services using mTLS, enhancing security.

Persistent Volume Claims (PVC)

Kubernetes resource representing a request for storage by a user, abstracting storage implementation details.

Persistent Volumes (PV)

Kubernetes abstraction for a piece of storage in the cluster, managed independently of individual pods.

PersistentVolume

Kubernetes resource representing a piece of storage in the cluster that has been provisioned by an administrator.

PersistentVolumeClaim

Kubernetes resource representing a request for storage by a user, abstracting the details of the underlying storage implementation.

Pipeline as Code

Practice of defining CI/CD pipelines using code, often stored alongside application code for version control and review.

Pixie

Open-source observability tool for Kubernetes, providing automatic data collection and real-time debugging capabilities.

Pixie for Kubernetes Observability

Use of Pixie to gain deep insights into Kubernetes cluster performance and application behavior without code changes.

Pod

Smallest deployable unit in Kubernetes, consisting of one or more containers sharing storage and network resources.

Pod Affinity

Kubernetes scheduling constraint that allows pods to be co-located with other pods based on labels.

Pod Affinity/Anti-Affinity

Kubernetes features for influencing pod scheduling based on the topology of the cluster and other pods.