| Definition |
IP address assigned to an individual pod |
Virtual IP assigned to a Kubernetes service |
| Scope |
Accessible within the node hosting the pod |
Accessible throughout the entire cluster |
| Lifespan |
Changes when a pod restarts or is rescheduled |
Remains constant as long as the service exists |
| Purpose |
Direct communication with a specific pod |
Load balances traffic across multiple pods |
| Stability |
Ephemeral and not stable for long-term connections |
Provides a stable endpoint for accessing services |
| Usage |
Used internally by Kubernetes for pod management |
Used by other pods and services for communication |
| Exposure |
Not exposed outside the cluster by default |
Can be exposed externally using service types like NodePort |
