# Kubernetes

> `kubernetes@1.0.0`

Kubernetes is the open-source container-orchestration platform originally designed by Google and now maintained by the Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF). The brand identity is anchored on the seven-spoked helm-wheel mark — a reference to the Greek "κυβερνήτης" (kubernetes, "helmsman") — filled with the signature Kubernetes Blue (#326CE5). The visual voice is community-led and engineering-direct: documentation-forward, diagram-friendly, and committed to the open-source convention of primary-source clarity over marketing flourish. The mark and the blue together form one of the most recognizable identities in cloud-native infrastructure.


**Tags:** `tech`, `kubernetes`, `k8s`, `cncf`, `open-source`, `infrastructure`

## Atoms

### Palette

**Kubernetes** · `kubernetes@1.0.0` · Apache-2.0

> Kubernetes brand palette anchored on Kubernetes Blue (#326CE5) — the signature blue of the seven-spoked helm-wheel mark and the principal accent across kubernetes.io. The palette pairs the signature blue with a darker navy used in dark-mode marketing and a neutral ramp for body copy and documentation surfaces. Kubernetes is an open-source project hosted by the Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF); the brand assets are governed by the CNCF brand guidelines and the project's CONTRIBUTING surface. 

### Fonts

| Role | Font | License | Classification |
|------|------|---------|----------------|
| `heading` | **Inter** `(inter@1.0.0)` | OFL-1.1 | sans-serif |
| `body` | **Inter** `(inter@1.0.0)` | OFL-1.1 | sans-serif |
| `mono` | **JetBrainsMono Nerd Font** `(jetbrainsmono-nerdfont@1.0.0)` | OFL-1.1 | monospace |

## Swatches

| ID | Name | Value |
|----|------|-------|
| `k8s-blue` | Kubernetes Blue | `#326CE5` |
| `k8s-blue-dark` | Kubernetes Blue Dark | `#2956B2` |
| `k8s-blue-light` | Kubernetes Blue Light | `#7493E0` |
| `k8s-navy` | Kubernetes Navy | `#0B132B` |
| `k8s-navy-deep` | Kubernetes Navy Deep | `#050911` |
| `k8s-ink` | Kubernetes Ink | `#303030` |
| `k8s-gray` | Kubernetes Gray | `#5F6368` |
| `k8s-gray-light` | Kubernetes Gray Light | `#9AA0A6` |
| `k8s-surface` | Kubernetes Surface | `#F1F3F4` |
| `k8s-border` | Kubernetes Border | `#DADCE0` |
| `k8s-white` | Kubernetes White | `#FFFFFF` |
| `k8s-success` | Kubernetes Success | `#0F9D58` |
| `k8s-warning` | Kubernetes Warning | `#F4B400` |
| `k8s-error` | Kubernetes Error | `#DB4437` |

## Mode role mappings

### Light mode

| Role | Swatch | Hex |
|------|--------|-----|
| `background` | `k8s-white` | `#FFFFFF` |
| `surface` | `k8s-surface` | `#F1F3F4` |
| `surface-elevated` | `k8s-white` | `#FFFFFF` |
| `text-primary` | `k8s-ink` | `#303030` |
| `text-secondary` | `k8s-gray` | `#5F6368` |
| `text-tertiary` | `k8s-gray-light` | `#9AA0A6` |
| `primary` | `k8s-blue` | `#326CE5` |
| `primary-hover` | `k8s-blue-dark` | `#2956B2` |
| `accent` | `k8s-blue-light` | `#7493E0` |
| `accent-hover` | `k8s-blue` | `#326CE5` |
| `warning` | `k8s-warning` | `#F4B400` |
| `warning-hover` | `k8s-error` | `#DB4437` |
| `error` | `k8s-error` | `#DB4437` |
| `success` | `k8s-success` | `#0F9D58` |
| `border` | `k8s-border` | `#DADCE0` |

### Dark mode

| Role | Swatch | Hex |
|------|--------|-----|
| `background` | `k8s-navy-deep` | `#050911` |
| `surface` | `k8s-navy` | `#0B132B` |
| `surface-elevated` | `k8s-blue-dark` | `#2956B2` |
| `text-primary` | `k8s-white` | `#FFFFFF` |
| `text-secondary` | `k8s-surface` | `#F1F3F4` |
| `text-tertiary` | `k8s-gray-light` | `#9AA0A6` |
| `primary` | `k8s-blue-light` | `#7493E0` |
| `primary-hover` | `k8s-blue` | `#326CE5` |
| `accent` | `k8s-blue` | `#326CE5` |
| `accent-hover` | `k8s-blue-light` | `#7493E0` |
| `warning` | `k8s-warning` | `#F4B400` |
| `warning-hover` | `k8s-error` | `#DB4437` |
| `error` | `k8s-error` | `#DB4437` |
| `success` | `k8s-success` | `#0F9D58` |
| `border` | `k8s-blue-dark` | `#2956B2` |

## Brand semantic roles

### Colors

| Role | Swatch | Hex |
|------|--------|-----|
| `identity` | `k8s-blue` | `#326CE5` |
| `on-identity` | `k8s-white` | `#FFFFFF` |
| `primary` | `k8s-blue` | `#326CE5` |
| `primary-hover` | `k8s-blue-dark` | `#2956B2` |
| `accent` | `k8s-blue-light` | `#7493E0` |
| `accent-hover` | `k8s-blue` | `#326CE5` |
| `background` | `k8s-white` | `#FFFFFF` |
| `surface` | `k8s-surface` | `#F1F3F4` |
| `surface-elevated` | `k8s-white` | `#FFFFFF` |
| `text-primary` | `k8s-ink` | `#303030` |
| `text-secondary` | `k8s-gray` | `#5F6368` |
| `text-tertiary` | `k8s-gray-light` | `#9AA0A6` |
| `chrome` | `k8s-navy` | `#0B132B` |
| `chrome-deep` | `k8s-navy-deep` | `#050911` |
| `mark` | `k8s-blue` | `#326CE5` |

### Typography

| Role | Font role key |
|------|---------------|
| `display` | `heading` |
| `prose` | `body` |
| `code` | `mono` |

## Rules

### 🛑 error (6)

#### `colorChoice` → `logo.helm-wheel.fill`

- **allowed:** k8s-blue, k8s-white
- **forbidden:** k8s-blue-dark, k8s-blue-light, k8s-navy

> The Kubernetes helm-wheel renders in Kubernetes Blue (#326CE5) or reversed white per the CNCF trademark guidelines. The darker pressed-state and the lighter illustration accent are interactive-state tokens and never mark fills. 

#### `forbiddenTreatment` → `logo`

- **treatments:** stretched, rotated, recolored, drop-shadow, on-busy-photo, spokes-altered, gradient-fill

> The CNCF trademark guidelines explicitly prohibit altering the proportions, color, or arrangement of the Kubernetes helm-wheel mark. The seven spokes are a defined feature of the mark and must not be modified. 

#### `contrastRatio` → `text-primary`

- **against:** `background`
- **minRatio:** `4.5`
- **standard:** `WCAG-AA`

> Kubernetes Ink (#303030) on Kubernetes White gives ~13:1 — well above WCAG 2.1 Level AA. The kubernetes.io documentation surface targets AA as the accessibility floor; consumers must not reduce this contrast. 

#### `contrastRatio` → `roles.colors.primary`

- **against:** `background`
- **minRatio:** `4.5`
- **standard:** `WCAG-AA`

> Kubernetes Blue (#326CE5) on Kubernetes White gives ~5.1:1 — clearing WCAG AA for body-sized interactive text. The documentation site relies on this contrast for link legibility. 

#### `accessibilityRequirement` → `*`

- **standard:** `WCAG-AA`
- **criterion:** `1.4.3`

> WCAG 2.1 Success Criterion 1.4.3 (Contrast Minimum) — Level AA. The kubernetes.io documentation surface and CNCF project sites both target AA as the floor for accessibility on open-source documentation. 

#### `contextRestriction` → `logo.helm-wheel`

- **forbiddenContexts:** commercial-endorsement, product-co-branding-without-permission

> The Linux Foundation / CNCF trademark usage policy requires explicit permission for commercial endorsement or co-branding uses of the Kubernetes mark. Use of the helm-wheel to imply endorsement of a commercial product requires written approval from the CNCF. 

### 💡 recommendation (2)

#### `compositionConstraint` → `roles.colors.primary`

- **pairsWith:** k8s-white, k8s-navy, k8s-surface
- **doesNotPairWith:** k8s-warning, k8s-error

> The Kubernetes Blue pairs cleanly against the white canvas and the navy dark-mode chrome. Pairing the brand blue directly with the warning amber or error red on the same surface creates a status-color conflict that competes with the brand voice. 

#### `fontPairing` → `typography.heading`

- **requires:** `body`
- **minSizeRatio:** `1.5`

> The kubernetes.io documentation surface uses a single family for heading and body, with hierarchy established through size. A 1.5× heading-to-body floor preserves the display-to-prose distinction across the long-form reference content. 

## Provenance

- **Source:** <https://kubernetes.io/community/branding/>
- **License:** `Apache-2.0`
- **Attribution:** Kubernetes is a registered trademark of The Linux Foundation / Cloud Native Computing Foundation. The Kubernetes name and logo are used under the CNCF trademark usage guidelines (cncf.io/brand-guidelines). The Kubernetes project source is licensed under Apache License 2.0; brand colors and identity guidance documented here are derived from the project's branding page (kubernetes.io/community/branding/), the kubernetes/community repository, and the CNCF Style Guide. Copyright The Kubernetes Authors / Cloud Native Computing Foundation. 
- **Imported:** `2026-05-18`
- **Notes:** Kubernetes is the only Apache-2.0-licensed brand atom in this initial cloud-and-devops set — the project itself is open-source and the brand assets are governed by the CNCF trademark policy. No asset files are bundled here; the helm- wheel mark must be retrieved directly from the Kubernetes branding page under the CNCF brand guidelines. Use of the Kubernetes name and mark must comply with the Linux Foundation / CNCF trademark usage policy. 

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*Generated by the brand-atoms converter. Source: `kubernetes@1.0.0` from the encyclopedia.*