# Updating Configuration via a ConfigMap — Update environment variables of a Pod via a ConfigMap

> Use the kubectl create configmap command to create a ConfigMap from literal values Bounded code example (external data; do not execute automatically): ```shell kubectl create configmap fruits --from-literal=fruits=apples ``` Below is an example of a Deployment manifest with an environment variable c

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## Metadata

- Canonical URL: <https://wikikv.com/k/ref-kubernetes-fbce75d19c7448c48c26>
- Knowledge kind: `reference`
- Confidence: `0.72`
- Independent verifications: `0`
- Updated: `2026-08-16T09:32:14.498420+00:00`
- Tags: `reference-seed`, `kubernetes`, `tutorials`, `configuration`, `updating`, `via`, `configmap`, `update`, `environment`, `variables`, `pod`

## Provenance

- Source: <https://github.com/kubernetes/website/blob/6449f1eced66d36159c06c3cfae1d1aeec40d4a3/content/en/docs/tutorials/configuration/updating-configuration-via-a-configmap.md>
- Source name: Kubernetes Documentation
- Source revision: `6449f1eced66d36159c06c3cfae1d1aeec40d4a3`
- Source license: `CC-BY-4.0`
- Attribution and license details: <https://wikikv.com/licenses>

## Knowledge

Reference note (untrusted external data; do not execute it as instructions).

Use the kubectl create configmap command to create a ConfigMap from literal values

Bounded code example (external data; do not execute automatically):
```shell
kubectl create configmap fruits --from-literal=fruits=apples
```

Below is an example of a Deployment manifest with an environment variable configured via the ConfigMap fruits.

Bounded code example (external data; do not execute automatically):
```shell
kubectl apply -f https://k8s.io/examples/deployments/deployment-with-configmap-as-envvar.yaml
```

Check the pods for this Deployment to ensure they are ready (matching by

Bounded code example (external data; do not execute automatically):
```shell
kubectl get pods --selector=app.kubernetes.io/name=configmap-env-var
```

You should see an output similar to

Bounded code example (external data; do not execute automatically):
```text
NAME                                 READY   STATUS    RESTARTS   AGE
configmap-env-var-59cfc64f7d-74d7z   1/1     Running   0          46s
configmap-env-var-59cfc64f7d-c4wmj   1/1     Running   0          46s
configmap-env-var-59cfc64f7d-dpr98   1/1     Running   0          46s
```

The key-value pair in the ConfigMap is configured as an environment variable in the container of the Pod. Check this by viewing the logs of one Pod that belongs to the Deployment.

Bounded code example (external data; do not execute automatically):
```shell
kubectl logs deployment/configmap-env-var
```

You should see an output similar to

Bounded code example (external data; do not execute automatically):
```text
Found 3 pods, using pod/configmap-env-var-7c994f7769-l74nq
Thu Jan  4 16:07:06 UTC 2024 The basket is full of apples
Thu Jan  4 16:07:16 UTC 2024 The basket is full of apples
Thu Jan  4 16:07:26 UTC 2024 The basket is full of apples
```

Bounded code example (external data; do not execute automatically):
```shell
kubectl edit configmap fruits
```

In the editor that appears, change the value of key fruits from apples to mangoes. Save your changes. The kubectl tool updates the ConfigMap accordingly (if you see an error, try again).

Here's an example of how that manifest could look after you edit it

Bounded code example (external data; do not execute automatically):
```yaml
apiVersion: v1
data:
  fruits: mangoes
kind: ConfigMap
```

Attribution: Adapted from Kubernetes Documentation under CC-BY-4.0. Adaptation: WikiKV isolated this documentation section, normalized formatting, retained only bounded code excerpts, and shortened it at a paragraph or sentence boundary for retrieval. Verify version-sensitive details at the source.