How to switch namespace in kubernetes

Question

Say, I have two namespaces k8s-app1 and k8s-app2

I can list all pods from specific namespace using the below command

kubectl get pods -n <namespace>

We need to append namespace to all commands to list objects from the respective namespaces. Is there a way to set specific namespace and list objects without including the namespace explicitly?

Answer 1

I was able to switch namespace using the below steps

kubectl config set-context $(kubectl config current-context) --namespace=<namespace>
kubectl config view | grep namespace
kubectl get pods

This is how i have tested

# Create namespaces k8s-app1, k8s-app2 and k8s-app3
master $ kubectl create ns k8s-app1
namespace/k8s-app1 created
master $ kubectl create ns k8s-app2
namespace/k8s-app2 created
master $ kubectl create ns k8s-app3
namespace/k8s-app3 created

# Create Service Account app1-sa in k8s-app1
# Service Account app2-sa in k8s-app2
# Service Account app3-sa in k8s-app3
master $ kubectl create sa app1-sa -n k8s-app1
serviceaccount/app1-sa created
master $ kubectl create sa app2-sa -n k8s-app2
serviceaccount/app2-sa created
master $ kubectl create sa app3-sa -n k8s-app3
serviceaccount/app3-sa created

# Switch namespace
master $ kubectl config set-context $(kubectl config current-context) --namespace=k8s-app1
Context "kubernetes-admin@kubernetes" modified.
master $ kubectl config view | grep namespace
    namespace: k8s-app1
master $ kubectl get sa
NAME      SECRETS   AGE
app1-sa   1         1m
default   1         6m
master $
master $ kubectl config set-context $(kubectl config current-context) --namespace=k8s-app2
Context "kubernetes-admin@kubernetes" modified.
master $ kubectl get sa
NAME      SECRETS   AGE
app2-sa   1         2m
default   1         7m
master $
master $ kubectl config set-context $(kubectl config current-context) --namespace=k8s-app3
Context "kubernetes-admin@kubernetes" modified.
master $ kubectl get sa
NAME      SECRETS   AGE
app3-sa   1         2m
default   1         7m