How to Update a Kubernetes Resource with kubectl in 2025

Kubernetes continues to be a crucial part of modern cloud-native applications. As more organizations leverage Kubernetes for their infrastructure, understanding how to effectively manage and update resources is essential. In this guide, we’ll walk you through updating a Kubernetes resource using kubectl in 2025. Before proceeding, ensure that you have kubectl installed. If you haven’t installed it yet, check out this guide on installing kubectl in PowerShell.

Introduction to Kubernetes Resource Management

Kubernetes is a powerful open-source platform designed to automate deploying, scaling, and operating application containers. When utilizing kubectl, the command-line tool for Kubernetes, you can perform a variety of operations such as creating, updating, viewing, and deleting resources in your cluster.

Prerequisites

Before you begin updating Kubernetes resources, make sure you have:

• Access to a Kubernetes cluster.
• kubectl installed and configured.
• Adequate permissions to update resources within the cluster.

Step-by-Step Guide to Updating a Kubernetes Resource

Updating a Kubernetes resource typically involves modifying either the configuration file or using the kubectl set and kubectl patch commands. Here’s how to do it in 2025:

1. Using kubectl apply

If you’re managing your Kubernetes resources declaratively using YAML configuration files, the recommended way to update resources is by applying your updated configuration:

kubectl apply -f [your-config-file].yaml

Replace [your-config-file].yaml with the path to your YAML configuration file. This method will update the resource to match the state defined in your file.

2. Using kubectl edit

To make quick inline edits to a Kubernetes resource, use the kubectl edit command. This opens the resource in your default editor, allowing you to make changes on the fly:

kubectl edit [resource-type]/[resource-name]

For example, to edit a deployment named my-deployment:

kubectl edit deployment/my-deployment

3. Using kubectl set

The kubectl set command is useful for specific scenarios, such as updating container images:

kubectl set image deployment/my-deployment my-container=my-image:tag

4. Using kubectl patch

For JSON-like modifications, the kubectl patch command can be utilized:

kubectl patch [resource-type] [resource-name] --patch '{"spec":{"containers":[{"name":"my-container","image":"my-image:tag"}]}}'

5. Verify the Update

After updating, verify the changes using kubectl get or kubectl describe:

kubectl get [resource-type] [resource-name]
kubectl describe [resource-type] [resource-name]

Conclusion

Updating Kubernetes resources effectively is critical for maintaining your application’s performance and availability. Whether you’re using kubectl apply for declarative updates or kubectl edit, set, or patch for more direct modifications, being fluent in these commands equips you to manage your Kubernetes applications confidently.

Remember to regularly check your cluster’s status and resource usage to ensure your changes are having the intended effects. As Kubernetes continues to evolve, being adept with tools like kubectl is invaluable for modern DevOps and IT operations roles.

For a detailed guide on installing kubectl on your system, you may want to refer to this installation guide. “`

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