Command
kubectl logs <pod-name>Explanation
Displays standard output (stdout) and error (stderr) logs from containers in a pod. It’s commonly used for diagnosing runtime errors or crashes. Use '-f' to stream logs live, and '-c' when a pod has multiple containers. For previous runs, use '--previous' to fetch logs from terminated containers.
Common Use Cases
- •Debug runtime application errors
- •Monitor real-time container logs
- •Retrieve logs from previously crashed containers
Best Practices
- ✓Use '--timestamps' for chronological analysis
- ✓Combine with 'kubectl get pods' to quickly locate crashing pods
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- ⚠Forgetting '-c' for multi-container pods
- ⚠Expecting logs from pods that have already been deleted
Troubleshooting
Problem: No logs returned
Solution: Ensure the pod and container exist and check if logs are being written to stdout/stderr.
Examples
Show logs for the specified pod
kubectl logs my-app-pod-1234View logs from a specific container
kubectl logs my-app-pod-1234 -c container1