KCNA Kubernetes Fundamentals Practice Question
Which command would you use to view the logs of a container named 'web' in a pod named 'frontend' running in the 'production' namespace?
⚠ Common exam trap
CNCF often tests the correct ordering of flags and positional arguments in `kubectl` commands, specifically that the `-c` container flag must come after the pod name, not before, and that omitting it when a pod has multiple containers will not target the intended container.
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 frontend -c web -n production
The `kubectl logs` command requires the pod name as the first positional argument, and the `-c` flag specifies the container name when a pod has multiple containers. The `-n` flag sets the namespace. The correct syntax is `kubectl logs <pod-name> -c <container-name> -n <namespace>`, which matches option B exactly.
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 -c web frontend --namespace production
Why it's wrong here
The order of arguments is incorrect; pod name should come before -c.
- ✓
kubectl logs frontend -c web -n production
Why this is correct
`kubectl logs` targets a single container's stdout/stderr stream, and the `-c web` flag selects the container named 'web' within the pod, while `-n production` satisfies the namespace constraint. Without `-c`, the command would fail on a multi-container pod or default to the wrong container.
- ✗
kubectl logs frontend -n production container web
Why it's wrong here
The container flag is misplaced: kubectl expects -c web or --container=web, so 'container web' is parsed as a second resource argument and the command errors. It is tempting because it mirrors kubectl's flag syntax, yet only the correct -c form selects the container within the pod.
- ✗
kubectl logs frontend web --namespace production
Why it's wrong here
Supplying two positional arguments, 'frontend web', makes kubectl treat them as separate resources rather than pod and container, producing an error. It is tempting because both names appear, yet container selection requires the -c flag, not a second positional argument.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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.