---
id: mat-05-kubectl-for-pods
title: "kubectl for Pods"
---

# kubectl for Pods

## Apply a manifest
Deploy a Pod:
- `kubectl apply -f pod.yml`

Check Pods:
- `kubectl get pods`
- watch continuously:
  - `kubectl get pods --watch`

## Inspect pods with kubectl get
Useful output formats:
- `-o wide` (more columns)
- `-o yaml` (full YAML output)

Tip:
- compare desired state (`spec`) vs observed state (`status`).

## kubectl describe
- `kubectl describe pods <pod-name>`
Useful for events and deep status information.

## kubectl logs
- `kubectl logs <pod-name>`
- for a specific container:
  - `kubectl logs <pod-name> --container <container-name>`

## kubectl exec
Run a command in a running Pod:
- `kubectl exec <pod-name> -- <cmd>`

Get a tty:
- `kubectl exec -it <pod-name> -- sh`

For multi-container pods, add `--container <container-name>` as needed.