KCNA: Kubernetes Fundamentals
The provider lists this domain at 44% of the exam.
In plain English
The biggest domain. It covers what Kubernetes is made of (pods, deployments, services), how the cluster is run, how the scheduler decides where a pod goes, and how container images fit in. If you only have time to master one area, this is the one.
What the provider lists under it
- Kubernetes Core Concepts
- Administration
- Scheduling
- Containerization
Terms worth knowing
- Pod: The smallest unit you can deploy in Kubernetes, made of one or more containers that run together.
- Kubernetes Deployment: An object that keeps a chosen number of identical pods running and updates them safely.
- Kubernetes Service: A stable network address and name that sends traffic to a changing group of pods.
- Container vs virtual machine: A virtual machine includes a whole operating system. A container shares the host’s operating system kernel and packages only the app and what it needs.
Quick answers
How much of the KCNA exam is Kubernetes Fundamentals?
The provider lists it at 44% of the exam, according to the CNCF KCNA curriculum.
What topics are in Kubernetes Fundamentals?
Kubernetes Core Concepts; Administration; Scheduling; Containerization.
The other KCNA domains
- Container Orchestration (28% of the exam)
- Cloud Native Application Delivery (16% of the exam)
- Cloud Native Architecture (12% of the exam)
Test yourself
Full-length KCNA practice tests with an explanation for every answer option.
Browse the KCNA practice testsAll domainsDomain names, weights and topic lists come from the CNCF KCNA curriculum, checked 2 November 2026. Providers change their outlines, so confirm the current version before you book. The plain-English explanations are ours, not the provider’s. Not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by any certification vendor or exam body. Certification names, exam codes and product names are trademarks of their respective owners and are used only to identify the exam a practice product prepares for. Our questions are original and are not actual exam questions.