Problem Statement
When would you use a StatefulSet instead of a Deployment and what storage considerations come into play?
Explanation
A StatefulSet is used for applications that require stable network identifiers, ordered start-up or shutdown, and persistent storage tied to each replica (for example databases or message queues). When using a StatefulSet you must ensure each replica has a PersistentVolumeClaim bound to appropriate storage, define a StorageClass for dynamic provisioning, and consider storage performance, retention and backup. Using StatefulSet correctly is key for stateful workloads in Kubernetes production setups.
