The Santoku is a general-purpose kitchen knife similar to the chef's knife. The blade of the Santoku is not as curved as a chef's knife, resulting in more of a chopping motion instead of a rocking motion. It performs well at slicing, dicing, and mincing.
A Kullenschliff (K) edge, also known as a Granton- or Hollow-Edge, is designed to create an air pocket between the food and the blade, helping to prevent sticking.