What does an Ingress do in a Kubernetes cluster?

An Ingress in a Kubernetes cluster is specifically designed to manage external access to the services running within the cluster. It provides a set of rules and routing configurations that enable external users to interact with cluster services over HTTP and HTTPS. This allows for traffic management, such as URL routing and load balancing, effectively directing incoming requests to the right services based on defined paths or hostnames.

Ingress facilitates a streamlined way to expose multiple services using a single external IP address by utilizing host or path rules. This also enhances security and simplifies the configuration and management of application access. By enabling such capabilities, Ingress serves as a crucial component for handling incoming traffic, contributing to both functionality and efficiency in a Kubernetes environment.