This CKAD practice question tests your understanding of application deployment. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A company wants to deploy a stateless web application on Kubernetes. The application needs to be accessible externally via a stable IP address and should support SSL termination at the ingress level. Which resource should be used to route external traffic to the application?
ClusterIP
Why wrong: ClusterIP is only accessible within the cluster.
NodePort
Why wrong: NodePort exposes a static port but does not handle SSL termination.
Ingress
Ingress provides external access, SSL termination, and routing rules.
LoadBalancer
Why wrong: LoadBalancer provides external IP but lacks SSL termination and routing.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Ingress
Ingress is the correct resource because it provides external HTTP/HTTPS access to services within a cluster, supports SSL/TLS termination at the ingress controller level, and can expose multiple services under a single stable IP address or hostname. Unlike other service types, Ingress is specifically designed for layer 7 routing and SSL termination, making it ideal for stateless web applications that require a stable external endpoint.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
ClusterIP
Why it's wrong here
ClusterIP is only accessible within the cluster.
NodePort
Why it's wrong here
NodePort exposes a static port but does not handle SSL termination.
Ingress
Why this is correct
Ingress provides external access, SSL termination, and routing rules.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
LoadBalancer
Why it's wrong here
LoadBalancer provides external IP but lacks SSL termination and routing.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates often confuse LoadBalancer with Ingress, thinking LoadBalancer can handle SSL termination natively, but in Kubernetes, LoadBalancer only provides a stable external IP at layer 4 (TCP/UDP) and does not terminate SSL; SSL termination is a layer 7 feature that requires an Ingress controller or a separate reverse proxy.
Detailed technical explanation
An Ingress resource relies on an Ingress controller (e.g., NGINX, Traefik, or HAProxy) that runs as a pod in the cluster and implements the actual routing and SSL termination. The Ingress controller watches the Kubernetes API for Ingress resources and configures itself accordingly, often using a ConfigMap or annotations to specify SSL certificates (stored as Kubernetes Secrets) and termination behavior. In real-world scenarios, Ingress allows path-based or host-based routing to multiple backend services behind a single external IP, reducing the need for multiple LoadBalancer services and simplifying certificate management.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A small business has 20 workstations on the 192.168.1.0/24 network and one public IP from its ISP. The router uses PAT (NAT overload) so all 20 devices share one public address using different source ports. NAT questions test whether you understand the four address terms and which direction each translation applies.
What to study next
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FAQ
Application Deployment — This question tests Application Deployment — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Ingress — Ingress is the correct resource because it provides external HTTP/HTTPS access to services within a cluster, supports SSL/TLS termination at the ingress controller level, and can expose multiple services under a single stable IP address or hostname. Unlike other service types, Ingress is specifically designed for layer 7 routing and SSL termination, making it ideal for stateless web applications that require a stable external endpoint.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
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