StorageClass
A Kubernetes template that defines a "kind" of storage — e.g. "fast SSD" or "cheap HDD" — and how it should be dynamically provisioned. When a PVC references a StorageClass, the right kind of volume is created automatically on demand.
Mechanic: a StorageClass specifies a provisioner (the driver that creates the volume — AWS EBS CSI, GCE PD, Ceph, etc.) and parameters (disk type, IOPS, encryption), plus policies like reclaimPolicy (what happens to the volume when the PVC is deleted — Delete or Retain) and whether volumes can be expanded later. Use case: offer developers a "gold" class (fast, replicated) and a "standard" class (cheap) — they just pick the name in their PVC, the infrastructure details are handled for them. A default StorageClass is used if the PVC specifies none. Win: self-service for storage without admins manually creating disks, and a clear separation between what developers ask for and how it's delivered. Related to Persistent Volume Claim and Infrastructure as Code.