---
source: https://iinventedlight.com/library/notes/kubernetes-kubectl-basics.md
title: "kubectl basics"
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, Command line tool (kubectl), CC BY 4.0 (kubernetes/website); Kubernetes Authors, kubectl Quick Reference, 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', 'kubectl', 'cli', 'tooling']
sources:
  - id: S1
    title: "Command line tool (kubectl)"
    publisher: Kubernetes Authors
    url: https://kubernetes.io/docs/reference/kubectl/
    accessed: 2026-11-04
    license: "CC BY 4.0 (kubernetes/website)"
  - id: S2
    title: "kubectl Quick Reference"
    publisher: Kubernetes Authors
    url: https://kubernetes.io/docs/reference/kubectl/quick-reference/
    accessed: 2026-11-04
    license: "CC BY 4.0 (kubernetes/website)"
---
# kubectl basics

**Answer:** kubectl is the Kubernetes command-line tool for talking to a cluster's control plane through the API. It reads cluster and credential settings from a kubeconfig file, by default `~/.kube/config` or the `KUBECONFIG` variable.

## Everyday commands

```bash
kubectl get pods -A
kubectl describe pod web-0
kubectl logs deploy/web -f
kubectl apply -f app.yaml
kubectl delete -f app.yaml
kubectl exec -it web-0 -- sh
kubectl port-forward svc/web 8080:80
```

## Contexts

```bash
kubectl config get-contexts
kubectl config use-context staging
kubectl config set-context --current --namespace=dev
```

## Productivity

```bash
source <(kubectl completion bash)
alias k=kubectl
complete -o default -F __start_kubectl k
```

## Tips

- `--dry-run=client -o yaml` to generate manifests.
- `kubectl explain deployment.spec` for field docs.

## Claims
- id: C1
  claim: Kubernetes provides a command line tool for communicating with a cluster.
  source: S1
  evidence: "Kubernetes provides a command line tool for communicating with a Kubernetes cluster's"
- id: C2
  claim: kubeconfig files organize cluster access.
  source: S1
  evidence: "Organizing Cluster Access Using kubeconfig Files"
- id: C3
  claim: kubectl completion sets up autocomplete in bash.
  source: S2
  evidence: "source <(kubectl completion bash) # set up autocomplete in bash into the current shell"
- id: C4
  claim: The quick reference covers kubectl logs.
  source: S2
  evidence: "kubectl logs"

## Sources
- [S1] Command line tool (kubectl). Kubernetes Authors. https://kubernetes.io/docs/reference/kubectl/ . License: CC BY 4.0 (kubernetes/website). Accessed 2026-11-04.
- [S2] kubectl Quick Reference. Kubernetes Authors. https://kubernetes.io/docs/reference/kubectl/quick-reference/ . 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).