NGINX Ingress Controller is a Kubernetes Ingress controller that manages traffic routing using NGINX and NGINX Plus as the underlying reverse proxy.
The tool solves the problem of routing external traffic to services within a Kubernetes cluster. It implements the standard Ingress API, allowing operators to define routing rules declaratively through Kubernetes resources. The controller watches for Ingress objects and translates them into NGINX configuration, handling content-based routing and TLS/SSL termination.
Organizations running Kubernetes clusters should choose this controller if they want to leverage NGINX's proven performance and configuration model for ingress traffic management. It suits projects already invested in NGINX or those seeking commercial support options. The project supports both the open-source NGINX and the commercial NGINX Plus offering, giving teams flexibility in their deployment model.
The project maintains active development with scheduled regression testing integrated into its workflow. Community engagement is structured through regular calls where maintainers discuss pull requests and feature requests from contributors. The codebase demonstrates attention to code quality through coverage tracking and maintains security standards as evidenced by its security scorecard practices.
