Command
kubectl describe pod <pod-name>Explanation
The 'kubectl describe pod' command shows deep insights into a pod’s configuration, events, container states, node assignment, and reasons for failures. It's essential for debugging pod lifecycle issues such as image pull errors or OOM kills. The output includes an 'Events' section which often explains startup problems or restarts.
Common Use Cases
- •Debug pod initialization or crash issues
- •Inspect container environment and volume mounts
- •Review recent pod lifecycle events
Best Practices
- ✓Always check both 'Containers' and 'Events' sections for full context
- ✓Use with '-n <namespace>' for non-default namespaces
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- ⚠Describing the wrong pod when multiple pods share a similar name
- ⚠Ignoring the 'Events' section which contains critical failure info
Troubleshooting
Problem: Image pull back-off or crash loops
Solution: Inspect the 'Events' section for failure reasons and verify image registry access or credentials.
Examples
Describe the specified pod
kubectl describe pod my-app-pod-1234