# Kubeconfig

### What is Kubeconfig? <a href="#what-is-kubeconfig" id="what-is-kubeconfig"></a>

Kubeconfig is a small YAML file that incorporates either the combination of a username and password, or a secure token to provide access to and authentication for the cluster. When this file is interpreted programmatically, it temporarily eliminates the need for the Kubernetes client to seek a medium for interactive authentication. It creates information about a cluster, its users, related namespaces, and provides an authentication mechanism.

In this section, we provide an [Introduction to kubeconfig](https://docs.platform9.com/managed-kubernetes/clusters/kubeconfig/kubeconfig-and-clients-introduction-to-kubeconfig) file itself, explain how to [download the kubeconfig](https://docs.platform9.com/managed-kubernetes/clusters/kubeconfig/download-kubeconfig) file, and [Obtain kubeconfig with qbert API](https://docs.platform9.com/managed-kubernetes/clusters/kubeconfig/kubeconfig-through-api).