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About Tasks
In contrast to Apps (long-running processes), Tasks run for a finite amount of time and then stops. Tasks run in their own containers based on configuration on the parent App, and it could be configured to use limited resources (e.g. CPU/memory/ephermeral disk storage).
Use Cases for Tasks
Migrating a database
Running a batch job (scheduled/unscheduled)
Sending an email
Transforming data (ETL)
Processing data (upload/backup/download)
How Tasks work
Tasks are executed asynchronously and run independently from the parent App or other Tasks running on the same App. An App created for running Tasks does not have routes created or assigned, and the Run lifecycle is skipped. The Source code upload and Build lifecycles still proceed and result in a container image used for running Tasks after pushing the App (see App lifecycles at Deploying an Application).
The lifecycle of a Task is as follows:
You push an App for running tasks with the kf push APP_NAME --task command.
You run a Task on the App with the kf run-task APP_NAME command. Task inherits the environment variables, service bindings, resource allocation, start-up command, and security groups bound to the App.
Kf creates a Tekton PipelineRun with values from the App and parameters from the run-task command.
The Tekton PipelineRun creates a Kubernetes Pod which launches a container based on the configurations on the App and Task.
Task execution stops (Task exits or is terminated manually), the underlying Pod is either stopped or terminated. Pods of stopped Tasks are preserved and thus Task logs are accessible via the kf logs APP_NAME --task command.
If you terminate a Task before it stops, the Tekton PipelineRun is cancelled (see Cancelling a PipelineRun), the underlying Pod together with the logs are deleted. The logs of termianted Tasks are delivered to the cluster level logging streams if configured (e.g. Stackdriver, Fluentd).
If the number of Tasks run on an App is greater than 500, the oldest Tasks are automatically deleted.
Tasks Retention Policy
Tasks are created as custom resources in the Kubernetes cluster, therefore, it is important not to exhaust the space of the underlying etcd database. By default, Kf only keeps the latest 500 Tasks per each App. Once the number of Tasks reach 500, the oldest Tasks (together with the underlying Pods and logs) will be automatically deleted.
Task Logging and Execution History
Any data or messages the Task outputs to STDOUT or STDERR is available by using the kf logs APP_NAME --task command. Cluster level logging mechanism (such as Stackdriver, Fluentd) will deliver the Task logs to the configured logging destination.
[[["Easy to understand","easyToUnderstand","thumb-up"],["Solved my problem","solvedMyProblem","thumb-up"],["Other","otherUp","thumb-up"]],[["Hard to understand","hardToUnderstand","thumb-down"],["Incorrect information or sample code","incorrectInformationOrSampleCode","thumb-down"],["Missing the information/samples I need","missingTheInformationSamplesINeed","thumb-down"],["Other","otherDown","thumb-down"]],["Last updated 2025-08-28 UTC."],[],[],null,["# Tasks\n\nAbout Tasks\n-----------\n\nIn contrast to Apps (long-running processes), Tasks run for a finite amount of time and then stops. Tasks run in their own containers based on configuration on the parent App, and it could be configured to use limited resources (e.g. CPU/memory/ephermeral disk storage).\n\nUse Cases for Tasks\n-------------------\n\n- Migrating a database\n- Running a batch job (scheduled/unscheduled)\n- Sending an email\n- Transforming data (ETL)\n- Processing data (upload/backup/download)\n\nHow Tasks work\n--------------\n\nTasks are executed asynchronously and run independently from the parent App or other Tasks running on the same App. An App created for running Tasks does not have routes created or assigned, and the **Run** lifecycle is skipped. The **Source code upload** and **Build** lifecycles still proceed and result in a container image used for running Tasks after pushing the App (see App lifecycles at [Deploying an Application](../how-to/deploying-an-app)).\n\nThe lifecycle of a Task is as follows:\n\n1. You push an App for running tasks with the `kf push APP_NAME --task` command.\n2. You run a Task on the App with the `kf run-task APP_NAME` command. Task inherits the environment variables, service bindings, resource allocation, start-up command, and security groups bound to the App.\n3. Kf creates a Tekton [PipelineRun](https://github.com/tektoncd/pipeline/blob/master/docs/pipelineruns.md) with values from the App and parameters from the `run-task` command.\n4. The Tekton PipelineRun creates a Kubernetes Pod which launches a container based on the configurations on the App and Task.\n5. Task execution stops (Task exits or is terminated manually), the underlying Pod is either stopped or terminated. Pods of stopped Tasks are preserved and thus Task logs are accessible via the `kf logs APP_NAME --task` command.\n6. If you terminate a Task before it stops, the Tekton PipelineRun is cancelled (see [Cancelling a PipelineRun](https://github.com/tektoncd/pipeline/blob/master/docs/pipelineruns.md#cancelling-a-pipelinerun)), the underlying Pod together with the logs are deleted. The logs of termianted Tasks are delivered to the cluster level logging streams if configured (e.g. Stackdriver, Fluentd).\n7. If the number of Tasks run on an App is greater than 500, the oldest Tasks are automatically deleted.\n\nTasks Retention Policy\n----------------------\n\nTasks are created as custom resources in the Kubernetes cluster, therefore, it is important not to exhaust the space of the underlying `etcd` database. By default, Kf only keeps the latest 500 Tasks per each App. Once the number of Tasks reach 500, the oldest Tasks (together with the underlying Pods and logs) will be automatically deleted.\n\nTask Logging and Execution History\n----------------------------------\n\nAny data or messages the Task outputs to STDOUT or STDERR is available by using the `kf logs APP_NAME --task` command. Cluster level logging mechanism (such as Stackdriver, Fluentd) will deliver the Task logs to the configured logging destination."]]
