Default Namespace

Learn the default and kube-system Namespaces.

The default namespace

To avoid typing -n constantly, the active context's default namespace is changed. This setting is written into the kubeconfig and affects all later commands:

kubectl config set-context --current --namespace=dev
kubectl config view --minify -o jsonpath='{..namespace}'
# dev
kubectl get pods     # now the pods in dev

Small tools like kubens reduce this to one command. Warning: forgetting which namespace you are in on a production cluster is dangerous; showing the context and namespace name at the start of the shell line is a common precaution.

Verifying the active namespace

Two ways to see which namespace you are in: config get-contexts shows the NAMESPACE column; config view --minify prints only the active context:

$ kubectl config get-contexts
CURRENT   NAME       CLUSTER    AUTHINFO   NAMESPACE
*         minikube   minikube   minikube   dev
$ kubectl config set-context --current --namespace=default   # go back

Exercise Change the default

Write three commands: set the active context's namespace to dev; list the contexts; list the pods without writing -n.

Show example solution

kubectl config set-context --current --namespace=dev
kubectl config get-contexts
kubectl get pods

Test yourself

What does set-context --current --namespace=dev change?
- It deletes the default namespace in the cluster
- Every user's namespace
- It moves pods to dev
- The active context's default namespace (in the kubeconfig)
Show answer

The active context's default namespace (in the kubeconfig) — The setting only affects your kubeconfig file.

Change the active context's namespace.

kubectl config set-context ____ --namespace=dev

Show answer

kubectl config set-context --current --namespace=dev

Match.

set-context --current

Change the active context
config view --minify

Only the active context
kubens

Namespace switching tool
NAMESPACE column

get-contexts output

Next lesson: Summary - Namespace

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