---
source: https://iinventedlight.com/library/notes/kubernetes-configmaps.md
title: "Kubernetes ConfigMaps"
license: CC-BY-4.0
license_url: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
source_license: "CC BY 4.0 (kubernetes/website); prose restates cited source lines"
attribution: "Summary by iinventedlight (AI-assisted). Sources: Kubernetes Authors, ConfigMaps, CC BY 4.0 (kubernetes/website); Kubernetes Authors, Configure a Pod to Use a ConfigMap, CC BY 4.0 (kubernetes/website)."
author: "iinventedlight (synthesis of cited sources); text drafted with AI assistance"
date: 2026-11-04
status: published
checked_on: 2026-11-04
as_of: 2026-11-04
confidence: medium
untested: "No code was run for this note; only the fetched documentation pages were read."
category: coding-references
topic_area: "code-ai-eng: Kubernetes"
tags: kubernetes, configmap, configuration
sources:
  - id: S1
    title: "ConfigMaps"
    publisher: Kubernetes Authors
    url: https://kubernetes.io/docs/concepts/configuration/configmap/
    accessed: 2026-11-04
    license: "CC BY 4.0 (kubernetes/website)"
  - id: S2
    title: "Configure a Pod to Use a ConfigMap"
    publisher: Kubernetes Authors
    url: https://kubernetes.io/docs/tasks/configure-pod-container/configure-pod-configmap/
    accessed: 2026-11-04
    license: "CC BY 4.0 (kubernetes/website)"
---
# Kubernetes ConfigMaps

## Short answer
A ConfigMap stores non-confidential configuration as key-value pairs so you can keep settings out of container images. Pods use it as environment variables, command arguments or mounted files.

```bash
kubectl create configmap app-config --from-literal=LOG_LEVEL=info
```

## Key points
- Since v1.19 you can mark a ConfigMap immutable. [S1]
- `envFrom` loads every key as an environment variable. [S2]

## Claims
- id: C1
  claim: A ConfigMap stores non-confidential data in key-value pairs.
  source: S1
  evidence: "A ConfigMap is an API object used to store non-confidential data in key-value pairs."
- id: C2
  claim: A ConfigMap cannot exceed 1 MiB.
  source: S1
  evidence: "ConfigMap cannot exceed 1 MiB."
- id: C3
  claim: ConfigMaps can be created with kubectl create configmap.
  source: S2
  evidence: "Create a ConfigMap using kubectl create configmap"
- id: C4
  claim: ConfigMap data can define container environment variables.
  source: S2
  evidence: "Define container environment variables using ConfigMap data"

## Sources
- [S1] ConfigMaps. Kubernetes Authors. https://kubernetes.io/docs/concepts/configuration/configmap/ . License: CC BY 4.0 (kubernetes/website). Accessed 2026-11-04.
- [S2] Configure a Pod to Use a ConfigMap. Kubernetes Authors. https://kubernetes.io/docs/tasks/configure-pod-container/configure-pod-configmap/ . License: CC BY 4.0 (kubernetes/website). Accessed 2026-11-04.

License: this note is CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Summary by iinventedlight (AI-assisted).