CKAD Application Observability and Maintenance Practice Question
Which command streams logs from a pod in real-time?
⚠ Common exam trap
CNCF often tests the `-f` flag against the non-existent `--stream` flag, exploiting the candidate's assumption that a verbose flag name exists when the actual flag is a short form.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
kubectl logs -f pod-name
`kubectl logs -f` (the `-f` flag stands for 'follow') streams log output from a pod in real-time, similar to `tail -f` on a file. This is the standard Kubernetes command for continuous log monitoring, allowing you to see new log lines as they are written by the container.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
kubectl logs --stream pod-name
Why it's wrong here
There is no --stream flag; the correct flag is -f or --follow.
- ✓
kubectl logs -f pod-name
Why this is correct
The -f flag follows log output in real-time.
- ✗
kubectl logs --previous pod-name
Why it's wrong here
This shows logs from the previous instance of the container, not live streaming.
- ✗
kubectl logs pod-name
Why it's wrong here
This prints the current logs but does not follow new output.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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.