Kube is a shorthand term for Kubernetes, an open-source platform designed to automate the deployment, scaling, and management of containerized applications. It helps developers manage applications that are packaged in containers, which are lightweight and portable units that can run consistently across different computing environments. Kubernetes orchestrates these containers, ensuring they run smoothly and efficiently. It provides features like load balancing, self-healing, and automated rollouts and rollbacks, making it easier for teams to maintain their applications. This system is widely used in cloud computing and supports various container tools, including Docker.