Crossplane Features

Kubernetes-Native Architecture

Crossplane extends Kubernetes with custom resource definitions (CRDs) that represent infrastructure resources. It runs as a set of controllers within a Kubernetes cluster, using the Kubernetes API server as the control plane for managing infrastructure across clouds.

Provider Packages

Crossplane providers are Kubernetes controllers that manage external resources. The Official provider family covers AWS, Azure, GCP, and other services. Each provider defines CRDs for the resources it manages and reconciles desired state with actual state.

Composition Engine

The Composition engine allows platform teams to define abstract infrastructure templates (Composite Resources) that developers can instantiate through simple API calls. Compositions bundle multiple managed resources into reusable infrastructure blueprints.

Claim-Based Provisioning

Crossplane uses a claims-based model where developers create claims (simplified resource requests) that are fulfilled by platform-defined compositions. This decouples developers from infrastructure details while maintaining platform team control.

Policy and Governance

Crossplane integrates with Kubernetes-native policy engines like OPA/Gatekeeper and Kyverno. Teams can enforce policies on infrastructure resources using the same tools they use for Kubernetes workloads.