Kubernetes Finalizers

In Kubernetes, deleting a resource might seem like a simple action — you issue a kubectl delete command, and the object disappears. But in many real-world scenarios, deletion isn’t that straightforward. Some resources need to perform important cleanup tasks before they can safely go away. That’s where Kubernetes Finalizers come into play. Finalizers act like a “pause button” during deletion, giving objects a chance to tidy up — whether that’s releasing cloud infrastructure, deleting dependent resources, or triggering external systems. In this guide, you’ll learn what finalizers are, how they work, and how to use them to manage cleanup operations gracefully. We'll make it practical and easy to understand, with examples to illustrate how finalizers can help you build more resilient, self-cleaning Kubernetes systems.