This KCNA practice question tests your understanding of kubernetes fundamentals. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
Which command would you use to view the logs of a container named 'web' in a pod named 'frontend' running in the 'production' namespace?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "which command"
Why it matters: Tests specific CLI syntax. Recall the exact command and its required context — near-synonyms and partial matches are common distractors.
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
Option B is correct because 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.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
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.
The clue word "which command" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
kubectl logs frontend -n production container web
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect syntax; container name should follow -c.
✗
kubectl logs frontend web --namespace production
Why it's wrong here
The -c flag is missing; this would try to interpret 'web' as a pod name.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
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.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The `kubectl logs` command retrieves logs from the container runtime (e.g., containerd or CRI-O) via the kubelet API. When a pod has multiple containers, the `-c` flag is mandatory to target a specific container; without it, `kubectl` returns logs from the first container listed in the pod spec. The `--namespace` flag is equivalent to `-n`, and both are positional-independent but must be placed correctly relative to the pod name. In real-world scenarios, misordering flags can cause silent failures or log retrieval from the wrong container, especially in CI/CD pipelines.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
→Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
→Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A practitioner preparing for the KCNA exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this KCNA question in full detail.
Kubernetes Fundamentals — This question tests Kubernetes Fundamentals — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: kubectl logs frontend -c web -n production — Option B is correct because 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.
What should I do if I get this KCNA question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "which command". Tests specific CLI syntax. Recall the exact command and its required context — near-synonyms and partial matches are common distractors.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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