CKAD Application Deployment Practice Question
Which kubectl command can be used to see the rollout status of a Deployment named 'web-app'?
⚠ Common exam trap
Many candidates confuse `kubectl rollout status` with `kubectl rollout history` or mistakenly think `kubectl describe` provides the same real-time rollout progress, when in fact `describe` only shows a snapshot of conditions without actively waiting for completion.
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 rollout status deployment web-app
`kubectl rollout status deployment web-app` is the dedicated command to monitor the rollout progress of a Deployment, showing whether the new ReplicaSet has been fully rolled out or if the rollout is still in progress. It provides real-time updates on the status of the rollout, such as waiting for pods to become ready or successfully completing the update.
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 rollout history deployment web-app
Why it's wrong here
The `kubectl rollout history deployment web-app` command displays the revision history of the Deployment, including all previous ReplicaSets and their change causes. It is designed for auditing past rollbacks, not for tracking the live progress of an ongoing update. This command does not report the current status, such as whether the new ReplicaSet has become available, so it cannot answer the question of rollout status.
- ✗
kubectl describe deployment web-app
Why it's wrong here
`kubectl describe deployment web-app` provides a comprehensive snapshot of the Deployment's configuration, events, and some status fields like available replicas, but it is not a dedicated rollout-status tool. It does not actively poll or wait for the rollout to progress; it shows the current state at the moment the command runs, without the dynamic waiting behavior needed to confirm completion. For monitoring an ongoing rollout, it lacks the focused, real-time updates that `kubectl rollout status` provides.
- ✗
kubectl status deployment web-app
Why it's wrong here
`kubectl status deployment web-app` is invalid because `status` is not a recognized kubectl subcommand. Running this would produce an error like "Error: unknown command 'status'" rather than returning any meaningful information. The valid ways to inspect resource status are `kubectl describe`, `kubectl get`, or `kubectl rollout status`, so this option is syntactically incorrect.
- ✓
kubectl rollout status deployment web-app
Why this is correct
`kubectl rollout status deployment web-app` is the correct command to monitor a Deployment's rollout progress. It blocks and repeatedly polls the Deployment's status, providing real-time updates until the rollout completes successfully, or it exits with an error if the rollout gets stuck. This command is specifically designed to report the rollout state, waiting for the new ReplicaSet to become fully available.
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