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 kubectl command would you use to view the logs of a container named 'web' inside a Pod named 'app-12345'?
Correct syntax: pod name first, then -c flag for container.
B
kubectl logs -p web app-12345
Why wrong: -p is for previous container logs, but the order is wrong.
C
kubectl logs app-12345 --container=web
Why wrong: This works, but the shorthand -c is more common. However, the question asks for the correct command; this is also correct but the best answer is -c. Nevertheless, we need to choose one. Option B is the most standard.
D
kubectl logs web app-12345
Why wrong: The syntax is kubectl logs <pod-name> [-c <container-name>].
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
kubectl logs app-12345 -c web
Option A is correct because `kubectl logs app-12345 -c web` explicitly specifies the container name 'web' within the Pod 'app-12345' using the `-c` flag. This is the standard syntax for viewing logs of a specific container in a multi-container Pod, as the `kubectl logs` command defaults to the first container if `-c` is omitted.
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 app-12345 -c web
Why this is correct
Correct syntax: pod name first, then -c flag for container.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
kubectl logs -p web app-12345
Why it's wrong here
-p is for previous container logs, but the order is wrong.
✗
kubectl logs app-12345 --container=web
Why it's wrong here
This works, but the shorthand -c is more common. However, the question asks for the correct command; this is also correct but the best answer is -c. Nevertheless, we need to choose one. Option B is the most standard.
✗
kubectl logs web app-12345
Why it's wrong here
The syntax is kubectl logs <pod-name> [-c <container-name>].
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
CNCF often tests the distinction between the `-c` flag for container selection and the `-p` flag for previous container logs, and the correct argument order (`kubectl logs <pod> -c <container>` vs. `kubectl logs <container> <pod>`), which leads candidates to confuse the flags or the positional syntax.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
This works, but the shorthand -c is more common. However, the question asks for the correct command; this is also correct but the best answer is -c. Nevertheless, we need to choose one. Option B is the most standard.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, `kubectl logs` communicates with the kubelet on the node via the Kubernetes API to retrieve the container's stdout/stderr streams, which are stored as log files on the node's filesystem (typically under `/var/log/pods/`). In multi-container Pods, each container has its own log file, and the `-c` flag ensures the API request targets the correct container's log stream. A subtle behavior is that if you omit `-c` in a multi-container Pod, the command will fail with an error indicating that a container name must be specified.
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 app-12345 -c web — Option A is correct because `kubectl logs app-12345 -c web` explicitly specifies the container name 'web' within the Pod 'app-12345' using the `-c` flag. This is the standard syntax for viewing logs of a specific container in a multi-container Pod, as the `kubectl logs` command defaults to the first container if `-c` is omitted.
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.
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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