Kubectl cheat sheet

Jake Stocker · April 3, 2025

tech

kubectl Cheat Sheet

📋 Listing Resources

kubectl get pods
kubectl get services
kubectl get deployments
kubectl get nodes
kubectl get all
  • Add -n <namespace> for a specific namespace.
  • Add -A or --all-namespaces for all namespaces.

🔍 Inspecting Resources

kubectl describe pod <pod-name>
kubectl logs <pod-name>
kubectl logs <pod-name> -c <container-name>   # for multi-container pods
kubectl get pod <pod-name> -o yaml            # raw YAML output

🛠️ Applying & Deleting Configs

kubectl apply -f <file.yaml>      # preferred for declarative usage
kubectl create -f <file.yaml>
kubectl delete -f <file.yaml>

🚨 Debugging & Exec

kubectl exec -it <pod-name> -- /bin/bash      # or /bin/sh
kubectl port-forward <pod-name> 8080:80       # local:remote port

💡 Shortcuts

kubectl get po        # pods
kubectl get svc       # services
kubectl get deploy    # deployments

🌐 Contexts & Clusters

kubectl config get-contexts
kubectl config use-context <context-name>
kubectl config current-context

📛 Namespaces

kubectl get ns
kubectl get pods -n <namespace>
kubectl create ns <namespace-name>

✏️ Editing & Patching

kubectl edit deployment <deployment-name>
kubectl patch deployment <name> -p '{"spec":{"replicas":2}}'

📈 Scaling & Rollouts

kubectl scale deployment <name> --replicas=3
kubectl rollout status deployment/<name>
kubectl rollout undo deployment/<name>

🔌 Useful Plugins (via krew)

kubectl krew install ctx     # manage contexts
kubectl krew install ns      # manage namespaces

🧠 Misc Tips

kubectl get pods -o wide      # more info: IPs, nodes, etc.
watch kubectl get pods        # live-updating view

Optional Aliases (add to .bashrc, .zshrc, etc.)

alias k='kubectl'
alias kgp='kubectl get pods'