New on LearnKube: Server-side apply: what happens when you run kubectl apply

Server-side apply changes how Kubernetes handles field ownership.

Kubernetes objects are shared state. Manifests, controllers, release tools, autoscalers, webhooks, and operators can all shape the same object.

With client-side apply, stale intent can overwrite live changes.

With server-side apply, ownership moves into the API server. Kubernetes tracks which manager owns each field and surfaces conflicts when ownership is contested.

Chiara put serious work into this guide, and you can read it in full here: https://learnkube.com/server-side-apply-kubernetes