What is eBPF?
A Linux kernel technology for running sandboxed programs without changing kernel source code.
eBPF (extended Berkeley Packet Filter) is a revolutionary Linux kernel technology that lets you run sandboxed programs in the kernel without changing kernel source code or loading kernel modules. eBPF programs are triggered by events (network packets, system calls, function calls) and run at near-native speed. In cloud-native systems, eBPF powers next-generation networking (Cilium), observability (Pixie), and security (Falco) tools — replacing heavier sidecar-based approaches.
Deep Dive Guide
ebpf will replace service mesh
Related Terms
More Networking Terms
API Gateway
A server that acts as entry point for APIs, handling routing, auth, and rate limiting.
Cilium
eBPF-based networking, security, and observability for Kubernetes clusters.
CNI (Container Network Interface)
A specification and plugins for configuring network interfaces in Linux containers.
Istio
A service mesh that adds mTLS, traffic management, and observability to Kubernetes services.
Network Policy
A Kubernetes resource that controls which pods can communicate with each other.
Service Mesh
A dedicated infrastructure layer for managing service-to-service communication in microservices.
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