KCNA Cloud Native Application Delivery Practice Question
A development team wants to implement GitOps for their Kubernetes deployments using ArgoCD. Which ArgoCD component is responsible for monitoring the Git repository for changes and syncing the desired state to the cluster?
⚠ Common exam trap
KCNA often tests the roles of ArgoCD components, and candidates may confuse the Repo Server's role (fetching manifests) with the Application Controller's role (syncing), leading to wrong answers.
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
✓
Application Controller
The Application Controller in ArgoCD is responsible for monitoring the Git repository for changes and syncing the desired state to the Kubernetes cluster. It continuously compares the live state of applications with the desired state defined in Git and takes corrective actions to reconcile them.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Repo Server
Why it's wrong here
The repo server clones repositories and renders manifests into Kubernetes YAML, but it does not watch for commits or apply state. It is tempting because it touches Git directly, yet syncing is performed by the application controller.
- ✗
API Server
Why it's wrong here
The API server exposes the gRPC/REST interface and web UI, serving requests rather than polling Git or applying manifests. It is tempting as ArgoCD's front door, yet it handles external and internal API calls, not the reconciliation loop.
- ✓
Application Controller
Why this is correct
The Application Controller continuously polls the Git repository, compares the desired manifests against live cluster state, and triggers sync when drift is detected. It satisfies the stem's requirement for the component that monitors Git and reconciles changes, unlike the API Server (which serves requests) or the repo server (which renders manifests).
- ✗
Redis Server
Why it's wrong here
Redis caches rendered manifests and cluster state for the API server; it neither polls Git nor applies manifests. It is tempting because it is a core ArgoCD component, but it serves caching and queuing, not reconciliation.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Cloud Native Application Design Principles
Key term
GitOps
GitOps is a way to manage and automate cloud infrastructure and applications by using a Git repository as the single source of truth, where all changes are made through pull requests and automatically applied by a software agent.
Key term
ReplicaSet and Replication
A ReplicaSet ensures a specified number of identical pod instances are running at all times in Kubernetes, using replication to maintain availability and stability.
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JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official CNCF exam blueprint
This KCNA 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 KCNA exam.