KCNA Container Orchestration Practice Question
Which THREE of the following are true about the Open Container Initiative (OCI)? (Choose 3)
⚠ Common exam trap
KCNA often tests the misconception that Docker owns or defines the OCI standards, when in reality OCI is a separate Linux Foundation project and Docker is merely one implementation that consumes those specs.
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
✓
OCI defines both an image spec and a runtime spec
Option C is correct because the Open Container Initiative publishes two core specifications: the OCI Image Format Specification (defining image manifests, configs, and layers) and the OCI Runtime Specification (defining how to run an unpacked filesystem bundle, e.g., via runc). Option D is correct because containerd is a widely used OCI-compliant container runtime that implements the OCI runtime spec through runc and can pull/run OCI images. Option E is correct because Docker images follow the OCI Image Format Specification (Docker helped create the OCI and its image format is compatible with OCI images). Option A is incorrect because Docker is a container platform/engine, not an OCI runtime specification; the OCI runtime spec is implemented by runtimes like runc. Option B is incorrect because the OCI is an independent Linux Foundation project, not governed by the CNCF (though CNCF projects like containerd are OCI-compliant).
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Docker is an OCI runtime specification
Why it's wrong here
Docker is a container platform and tooling vendor, not a runtime specification; the OCI runtime spec (runtime-spec) defines how runtimes such as runc execute containers. Docker's involvement is tempting because Docker donated the initial specification, but Docker implements OCI specs rather than being one.
- ✗
OCI is governed by the Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF)
Why it's wrong here
The OCI is a separate Linux Foundation project with its own governance board, not a CNCF-hosted project; CNCF hosts Kubernetes, containerd and runc. The confusion is tempting because OCI and CNCF collaborate closely on container standards, but governance sits under the Linux Foundation.
- ✓
OCI defines both an image spec and a runtime spec
Why this is correct
The OCI publishes two separate specifications: the Image Specification, covering image layout and manifests, and the Runtime Specification, covering container execution. This satisfies the requirement for a true statement, and is the axis distinguishing OCI from earlier vendor-specific formats.
- ✓
containerd is an OCI-compliant container runtime
Why this is correct
containerd implements the OCI Runtime Specification, so it can execute any OCI-compliant image bundle. This satisfies the requirement for a true statement, distinguishing it from orchestrators such as Kubernetes, which consume runtimes rather than implementing the runtime spec themselves.
- ✓
Docker images are OCI-compliant
Why this is correct
Docker's image format was donated to the OCI and conforms to the OCI Image Specification, so images built by Docker are OCI-compliant and portable to any conformant runtime. This satisfies the requirement for a true statement about the OCI's scope.
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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.