This CKAD practice question tests your understanding of application observability and maintenance. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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 developer wants to view the resource usage of all containers in a specific pod. Which command should they use?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "which command"
Why it matters: Tests specific CLI syntax. Recall the exact command and its required context — near-synonyms and partial matches are common distractors.
kubectl top pods --all-namespaces
Why wrong: Shows all pods, not per-container.
kubectl top pods
Why wrong: Shows all pods, not specific pod containers.
kubectl top pod <pod>
Why wrong: Shows pod-level metrics, not per-container.
kubectl top pod <pod> --containers
Shows per-container CPU and memory.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
kubectl top pod <pod> --containers
Option D is correct because `kubectl top pod <pod> --containers` displays per-container CPU and memory metrics for a specific pod, which is exactly what the developer needs to view resource usage of all containers within that pod. The `--containers` flag is essential to break down the pod-level metrics into individual container-level metrics.
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.
kubectl top pods --all-namespaces
Why it's wrong here
Shows all pods, not per-container.
kubectl top pods
Why it's wrong here
Shows all pods, not specific pod containers.
kubectl top pod <pod>
Why it's wrong here
Shows pod-level metrics, not per-container.
kubectl top pod <pod> --containers
Why this is correct
Shows per-container CPU and memory.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "which command" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates often assume `kubectl top pod <pod>` alone shows container-level details, but without the `--containers` flag it only shows pod-level aggregates, leading them to choose option C instead of D.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
Shows all pods, not per-container.
Detailed technical explanation
The `kubectl top` command relies on the metrics-server (or a compatible metrics API) to collect resource metrics from the kubelet's cAdvisor, which exposes per-container CPU and memory usage via the `/metrics/cadvisor` endpoint. The `--containers` flag instructs the metrics-server to include container-level metrics in the response, which are then formatted by kubectl into a table with a separate row for each container. In real-world scenarios, this is critical for identifying a single container within a pod that is consuming excessive resources, such as a sidecar proxy or a misbehaving application container.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A practitioner preparing for the CKAD exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
What to study next
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Application Observability and Maintenance — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
Application Observability and Maintenance practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
All CKAD questions
991 questions across all exam domains
Certified Kubernetes Application Developer CKAD study guide
Full concept coverage aligned to exam objectives
CKAD practice test guide
How to use practice tests most effectively before exam day
Related practice questions
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
Practise CKAD questions linked to Application Design and Build.
Practise CKAD questions linked to Application Deployment.
Practise CKAD questions linked to Application Environment, Configuration and Security.
Practise CKAD questions linked to Application Observability and Maintenance.
Practise CKAD questions linked to Services and Networking.
Practise CKAD questions linked to CKAD fundamentals.
Practise CKAD questions linked to CKAD scenario.
Practise CKAD questions linked to CKAD troubleshooting.
Practice this exam
Short sessions build daily habit. Longer sessions build exam-day stamina. Try a timed session to simulate real conditions.
FAQ
Application Observability and Maintenance — This question tests Application Observability and Maintenance — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: kubectl top pod <pod> --containers — Option D is correct because `kubectl top pod <pod> --containers` displays per-container CPU and memory metrics for a specific pod, which is exactly what the developer needs to view resource usage of all containers within that pod. The `--containers` flag is essential to break down the pod-level metrics into individual container-level metrics.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Yes — watch for: "which command". Tests specific CLI syntax. Recall the exact command and its required context — near-synonyms and partial matches are common distractors.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
This CKAD practice question is part of Courseiva's free CNCF certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the CKAD exam.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.