# Kubernetes Service

> A Kubernetes Service gives a changing set of pods a stable virtual IP and DNS name and load balances traffic to them: ClusterIP, NodePort or LoadBalancer.

- Source: https://www.itwonderlab.com/kubernetes-service/
- Published: 2026-08-25
- Updated: 2026-08-25
- Author: Javier Ruiz Jiménez (https://www.javierruizjimenez.com/)
- Site: IT Wonder Lab (https://www.itwonderlab.com/)

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A **Service** selects pods by label and gives them one stable address and DNS name, load balancing across the pods that are Ready. Types: `ClusterIP` (inside the cluster), `NodePort`, `LoadBalancer`, `ExternalName` and headless. Part of [Kubernetes](https://www.itwonderlab.com/kubernetes/).

### Key concepts

- **Selector and endpoints**: the Service sends traffic to the endpoints of ready pods; an empty list is the first thing to check.
- **Ports**: `port`, `targetPort` and `nodePort`.
- **DNS**: `name.namespace.svc.cluster.local`.
- **Ingress**: HTTP routing on top of Services, see [Ingress](https://www.itwonderlab.com/ingress/).

### Learn it

Read [Services and Ingress](https://www.itwonderlab.com/kubernetes-services-ingress/) and the [NodePort tutorial](https://www.itwonderlab.com/nodeport-kubernetes-cluster/).