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What Is Init Container Ordering?

Init containers are setup containers that run to completion before a pod main containers start, and they execute strictly in the order they are listed. Each must exit successfully before the next begins, and any failure restarts the sequence. This guarantees prerequisites like migrations or config fetches happen first.

Why it matters

Ordering lets you express setup dependencies, such as waiting for a database before the app boots. Misordered or slow init containers delay every pod start, which can stall a deploy.

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