What is the purpose of Kubernetes server-side apply (SSA) and how does it differ from client-side apply?

Question

Kubernetes Fundamentals — Hard

What is the purpose of Kubernetes server-side apply (SSA) and how does it differ from client-side apply?

Accepted Answer

Server-side apply differs from client-side apply by tracking field management on the API server. This enables multiple managers to own different fields, detecting conflicts when modifying the same field. In contrast, client-side apply relies on the last-applied-configuration annotation. The correct answer highlights this key distinction.