metadata contains information about the Kubernetes object.

It does NOT define behavior — only identity and labels.

—

• name → unique object name
• namespace → where it belongs
• labels → tags for selection
• annotations → extra info

—

metadata: name: my-app labels: app: web

—

labels help connect objects:

Service → selects Pods using labels

selector: app: web

—

metadata = “who is this object?”