A `Gateway` is an instance of network infrastructure that determines how service traffic should be handled. A `Gateway` contains one or more [`listeners`](#listeners) that bind to a set of IP addresses. An `HTTPRoute` or `TCPRoute` can then attach to a gateway listener to direct traffic from the gateway to a service.
Gateway instances derive their configurations from the [`GatewayClass`](/docs/api-gateway/configuration/gatewayclass) resource, which acts as a template for individual `Gateway` deployments. Refer to [GatewayClass](/docs/api-gateway/configuration/gatewayclass) for additional information.
| `scope` | Specifies the effective scope of the Gateway. The value should always be `namespaced`. | Required |
| `fields` | Specifies the configurations for the Gateway. The fields are listed in the [configuration model](#configuration-model). Details for each field are described in the [specification](#specification). | Required |
The following outline shows how to format the configurations in the `Gateway` object. Click on a property name to view details about the configuration.
Specifies the name of the [`GatewayClass`](/docs/api-gateway/configuration/gatewayclass) resource used for the `Gateway` instance. Unless you are using a custom [GatewayClass](/docs/api-gateway/configuration/gatewayclass), this value should be set to `consul-api-gateway`.
Specifies the `listeners` associated with the `Gateway`. At least one `listener` must be specified. Each `listener` within a `Gateway` must have a unique combination of `hostname`, `port`, and `protocol`.
* Type: array of objects
* Required: required
### listeners.allowedRoutes
Specifies a `namespace` object that defines the types of routes that may be attached to a listener.
* Type: object
* Required: required
### listeners.allowedRoutes.namespaces
Determines which routes are allowed to attach to the `listener`. Only routes in the same namespace as the `Gateway` may be attached by default.
Specifies a method for selecting routes that are allowed to attach to the listener. The `Gateway` checks for namespaces in the network that match either a regular expression or a label. Routes from the matching namespace are allowed to attach to the listener.
Specifies an array of requirements for matching namespaces. If a match is found, then routes from the matching namespace(s) are allowed to attach to the `Gateway`. The following table describes members of the `matchExpressions` array:
|`key` | Specifies the label that the `key` applies to. | string | required when `matchExpressions` is declared |
|`operator` | Specifies the key's relation to a set of values. You can use the following keywords: <ul><li>`In`: Only routes in namespaces that contain the strings in the `values` field can attach to the `Gateway`. </li><li>`NotIn`: Routes in namespaces that do not contain the strings in the `values` field can attach to the `Gateway`. </li><li>`Exists`: Routes in namespaces that contain the `key` value are allowed to attach to the `Gateway`.</li><li>`DoesNotExist`: Routes in namespaces that do not contain the `key` value are allowed to attach to the `Gateway`.</li></ul> | string | required when `matchExpressions` is declared |
|`values` | Specifies an array of string values. If `operator` is configured to `In` or `NotIn`, then the `values` array must contain values. If `operator` is configured to `Exists` or `DoesNotExist`, then the `values` array must be empty. | array of strings | required when `matchExpressions` is declared |
Refer to [Labels and Selectors](https://kubernetes.io/docs/concepts/overview/working-with-objects/labels/#resources-that-support-set-based-requirements) in the Kubernetes documentation for additional information about `matchExpressions`.
Specifies an array of labels and label values. If a match is found, then routes with the matching label(s) are allowed to attach to the `Gateway`. This selector can contain any arbitrary key/value pair.
Refer to [Labels and Selectors](https://kubernetes.io/docs/concepts/overview/working-with-objects/labels/) in the Kubernetes documentation for additional information about labels.
Specifies the `tls` configurations for the `Gateway`. The `tls` object is required if `protocol` is set to `HTTPS`. The object contains the following fields:
| `certificateRefs` | <div style={{width:480}}>Specifies Kubernetes `name` and `namespace` objects that contains TLS certificates and private keys. <br/>The certificates establish a TLS handshake for requests that match the `hostname` of the associated `listener`. Each reference must be a Kubernetes Secret. If you are using a Secret in a namespace other than the `Gateway`'s, each reference must also have a corresponding [`ReferenceGrant`](https://gateway-api.sigs.k8s.io/v1alpha2/references/spec/#gateway.networking.k8s.io/v1alpha2.ReferenceGrant).</div> | Object or array | Required if `tls` is set |
In the following example, `tls` settings are configured to use a secret named `consul-server-cert` in the same namespace as the `Gateway` and the minimum tls version is set to `TLSv1_2`.
The following example creates a `Gateway` named `example-gateway` in namespace `gateway-namespace`. This `Gateway` has a `certificateRef` in namespace `secret-namespace`. The reference is allowed because the `ReferenceGrant`, named `reference-grant` in namespace `secret-namespace`, allows `Gateways` in `gateway-namespace` to reference `Secrets` in `secret-namespace`.
