Answer
It cleans dependents using ownerReferences when parent objects are deleted.
Quick Answer
The garbage collector controller watches all Kubernetes objects and deletes orphaned ones. When a Deployment is deleted, the garbage collector also deletes its ReplicaSets and then their Pods, using owner references. Without it, deleting a Deployment would leave behind orphaned ReplicaSets and Pods consuming resources indefinitely.
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SugharaIQ Editorial Team
Verified Answer
This answer has been peer-reviewed by industry experts holding senior engineering roles to ensure technical accuracy and relevance for modern interview standards.
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Source: SugharaIQ