CKAD Application Observability and Maintenance Practice Question
Which kubectl command streams logs from a pod named 'web-pod' in real-time?
⚠ Common exam trap
Test-takers frequently confuse flags like `--tail` or `--since` with real-time streaming, not realizing that only `-f` (or `--follow`) provides continuous log output.
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 web-pod
The `-f` flag (short for `--follow`) tells kubectl to stream logs from the pod in real-time, similar to `tail -f` on a file. This is essential for live monitoring of application output as it is generated.
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 --since=5m web-pod
Why it's wrong here
--since=5m prints entries from the last five minutes and then exits; it does not follow the stream. It is tempting for recent troubleshooting, where a bounded window is exactly what you want, but real-time streaming requires the -f flag.
- ✗
kubectl logs --tail=100 web-pod
Why it's wrong here
--tail=100 prints the final hundred lines and returns to the prompt without following. It is tempting for inspecting recent output quickly, which suits post-incident review, but continuous streaming requires -f to keep the connection open.
- ✓
kubectl logs -f web-pod
Why this is correct
The -f flag follows the log stream, keeping the connection open and outputting new entries as they are generated rather than returning existing logs and exiting. This delivers the real-time streaming required for the named pod.
- ✗
kubectl logs web-pod
Why it's wrong here
Plain kubectl logs dumps the pod's current log buffer and exits; it never follows new entries. It is tempting because it is the base command everyone learns first, and it suffices for reading historical output, but real-time streaming needs the -f flag added.
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