Can pods communicate with each other by default in Kubernetes?
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Quick Answer
Yes. The Kubernetes network model gives every pod a routable IP and a flat network, so any pod can reach any other pod across nodes by default — until you restrict it with NetworkPolicies.
Detailed Answer
The model mandates that pods communicate without NAT and each pod sees the same IP others use to reach it; the CNI plugin (Calico, Cilium, etc.) implements this. Because the default is allow-all, real clusters add NetworkPolicies (default-deny plus explicit allows) to segment traffic — a common security hardening step.
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Interview Tip
State the flat, no-NAT model and that it is allow-all by default, so segmentation requires NetworkPolicies.
kubernetesnetworkingpods