kube-apiserver and kubectl
For kube-apiserver and kubectl, skew rule is kubectl is supported within one minor version (older or newer) of kube-apiserver; max skew (minor versions) is 1; may the second component be newer? is yes - kubectl is supported one minor version older or newer than kube-apiserver; worked example is kube-apiserver is at 1.37 kubectl is supported at 1.38, 1.37, and 1.36; newest release when captured is 1.37, recorded from its source on 2026-09-01; source re-checked 2026-09-16.
- Component pair
- kube-apiserver and kubectl our reading
- Skew rule
- kubectl is supported within one minor version (older or newer) of kube-apiserver. verified
- Max skew (minor versions)
- 1 our reading
- May the second component be newer?
- yes - kubectl is supported one minor version older or newer than kube-apiserver our reading
- Worked example
- kube-apiserver is at 1.37 kubectl is supported at 1.38, 1.37, and 1.36 verified
- Newest release when captured
- 1.37 verified
- HA cluster caveat
- If version skew exists between kube-apiserver instances in an HA cluster, this narrows the supported kubectl versions. verified
Values marked our reading are our classification of what the source says — the source does not print them in those words. The quote below is the evidence for each one; judge it yourself.
What the source says
kubectl is supported within one minor version (older or newer) of kube-apiserver.
— kubernetes.io, retrieved 2026-09-01
Where each value comes from
This source states these in separate places, so each value is shown with the passage that states it.
Worked example
Example: kube-apiserver is at 1.37 kubectl is supported at 1.38, 1.37, and 1.36
Newest release when captured
The Kubernetes project maintains release branches for the most recent three minor releases (1.37, 1.36, 1.35).
HA cluster caveat
Note: If version skew exists between kube-apiserver instances in an HA cluster, this narrows the supported kubectl versions.
— all from kubernetes.io, retrieved 2026-09-01
Source
- kubernetes.iohttps://kubernetes.io/releases/version-skew-policy/