The configuration resource directs traffic from outside the service mesh to specific services within it, based on defined criteria. It functions as the entry point, determining where incoming requests are routed. The criteria often include hostnames, paths, and headers, allowing for granular control over traffic flow. As an illustration, one could direct all traffic destined for “api.example.com/v1” to a specific version of an application deployed within the mesh.
This construct is essential for managing ingress traffic, enabling features such as canary deployments, blue/green deployments, and A/B testing. This approach improves resilience, facilitates controlled releases, and enhances the overall user experience. Historically, managing ingress required complex configurations of load balancers and ingress controllers; this component simplifies that process by integrating ingress management directly into the service mesh control plane.