Kubernetes is an open-source platform designed to automate the deployment, scaling, and management of containerized applications. It orchestrates clusters of virtual machines, scheduling containers to run on those virtual machines based on their available resources and the requirements of the containers. Kubernetes handles tasks such as load balancing, service discovery, and automated rollouts and rollbacks, ensuring that applications run reliably and efficiently. It provides a robust framework for developing and maintaining complex, distributed systems, making it a popular choice for managing containerized workloads in cloud environments.