Horizontal Pod Autoscaler

Horizontal Pod Autoscaler (HPA) is a feature in container management systems like Kubernetes that automatically adjusts the number of running application instances, called pods, based on current demand. When the system detects increased traffic or resource use, HPA increases the number of pods to handle the load. Conversely, it reduces the number when demand drops, ensuring optimal performance and resource efficiency. Essentially, HPA helps applications scale smoothly and automatically, without manual intervention, maintaining stability and responsiveness as usage varies.