---
title: Watch
id: watch
date: 2024-07-02
full_link: /docs/reference/using-api/api-concepts/#api-verbs
short_description: >
  A verb that is used to track changes to an object in Kubernetes as a stream.

aka:
tags:
- API verb
- fundamental
---
A verb that is used to track changes to an object in Kubernetes as a stream.
It is used for the efficient detection of changes.

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A verb that is used to track changes to an object in Kubernetes as a stream. Watches allow
efficient detection of changes; for example, a
{{< glossary_tooltip term_id="controller" text="controller">}} that needs to know whenever a
ConfigMap has changed can use a watch rather than polling.

See [Efficient Detection of Changes in API Concepts](/docs/reference/using-api/api-concepts/#efficient-detection-of-changes) for more information.