What does the kubectl command manage in a Kubernetes environment?

The kubectl command is the primary command-line tool for interacting with a Kubernetes cluster. It serves as the interface for users to issue commands to the Kubernetes API. The core function of kubectl involves sending REST commands, which allows users to control and manage a wide range of cluster resources, including but not limited to Pods, Services, Deployments, ConfigMaps, Persistent Volumes, and more.

By leveraging kubectl, administrators and developers can create, update, delete, and query resources within the Kubernetes environment. This command-line tool is fundamental to manipulating the various components of a Kubernetes cluster and does not limit its functionality to a single resource type or category, making it an essential tool in Kubernetes management.

Focusing solely on services, Pods, or persistent storage options would misrepresent the extensive capabilities of kubectl, which is designed to manage almost all aspects of a Kubernetes environment through a unified interface. Therefore, understanding that kubectl manages REST commands for controlling a diverse set of cluster resources highlights its comprehensive role in Kubernetes administration.