kubectx: Switch Kubernetes Contexts Fast
kubectx <name> sets the current context, kubectx with no argument lists them, and kubectx - switches back to the previous one.
Typing kubectl config use-context over and over is tedious. kubectx is a one-word switch with tab completion and a back button.
What it does
kubectx is a thin wrapper over the kubeconfig current-context. With an argument it switches; with none it lists all contexts and highlights the active one; - toggles to the previous context, like cd -.
Common usage
kubectx # list contexts, current one highlighted
kubectx staging # switch to the staging context
kubectx - # back to the previous context
kubectx prod=arn:aws:eks:... # alias a long context name to "prod"Options
| Form | What it does |
|---|---|
| kubectx | List all contexts |
| kubectx <name> | Switch to that context |
| kubectx - | Switch to the previous context |
| kubectx -c, --current | Print the current context name only |
| kubectx <new>=<old> | Rename / alias a context |
| kubectx -d <name> | Delete a context from kubeconfig |
In CI
In a job that touches several clusters, set KUBECONFIG to a merged file and use kubectx <name> before each step. Prefer kubectx -c over parsing kubectl config current-context when you just need the name.
Common errors in CI
error: no context exists with the name: "staging" means the context is absent from the active KUBECONFIG; run kubectx to see the real names. kubectx - printing error: no previous context found happens on the first switch in a fresh shell, where no prior context was recorded.