# Introduction to rpk > For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.redpanda.com/llms.txt). Component-specific: [streaming-full.txt](https://docs.redpanda.com/streaming-full.txt) --- title: Introduction to rpk latest-redpanda-tag: v25.3.11 latest-console-tag: v3.7.3 latest-operator-version: v26.1.4 # EOL = End-of-Life (support lifecycle status) page-is-nearing-eol: "false" page-is-past-eol: "false" page-eol-date: November 19, 2026 latest-connect-version: 4.93.0 docname: intro-to-rpk page-component-name: streaming page-version: "25.3" page-component-version: "25.3" page-component-title: Streaming page-relative-src-path: intro-to-rpk.adoc page-edit-url: https://github.com/redpanda-data/docs/edit/v/25.3/modules/get-started/pages/intro-to-rpk.adoc description: Learn about rpk and how to use it to interact with your Redpanda cluster. page-git-created-date: "2023-07-24" page-git-modified-date: "2025-08-21" support-status: supported --- The `rpk` command line interface tool is designed to manage your entire Redpanda cluster, without the need to run a separate script for each function, as with Apache Kafka. The `rpk` commands handle everything from configuring brokers to high-level general Redpanda tasks. For example, you can use `rpk` to monitor your cluster’s health, perform tuning, and implement access control lists (ACLs) and other security features. You can also use `rpk` to perform basic streaming tasks, such as creating topics, producing to topics, and consuming from topics. After you install `rpk`, you can use it to: - Manage Redpanda - Set up access control lists (ACLs) and other security features - Create topics, produce to topics, and consume from topics See also: - [Install or Update rpk](https://docs.redpanda.com/streaming/25.3/get-started/rpk-install/) - [rpk Profiles](https://docs.redpanda.com/streaming/25.3/get-started/config-rpk-profile/) - [Redpanda CLI Quickstart](https://docs.redpanda.com/streaming/25.3/get-started/rpk-quickstart/) ## [](#specify-configuration-properties)Specify configuration properties You can specify `rpk` command properties in the following ways: - Create an [`rpk profile`](https://docs.redpanda.com/streaming/25.3/get-started/config-rpk-profile/). - Specify the appropriate flag on the command line. - Define the corresponding [environment variables](#environment-variables). Environment variable settings only last for the duration of a shell session. Command line flag settings take precedence over the corresponding environment variables, and environment variables take precedence over configuration file settings. If a required flag is not specified on the command line, Redpanda searches the environment variable. If the environment variable is not set, the value in the `rpk.yaml` configuration file is used, if that file is available, otherwise the value in the `redpanda.yaml` configuration file is used. > 💡 **TIP** > > If you specify `rpk` command properties in the configuration files or as environment variables, you don’t need to specify them again on the command line. ### [](#common-configuration-properties)Common configuration properties Every `rpk` command supports a set of common configuration properties. You can set one or more options in an `rpk` command by using the `-X` flag: ```bash rpk -X -X ``` Get a list of available options with `-X list`: ```bash rpk -X list ``` Or, get a detailed description about each option with `-X help`: ```bash rpk -X help ``` Every `-X` option can be translated into an environment variable by prefixing it with `RPK_` and replacing periods (`.`) with underscores (`_`). For example, the flag `tls.enabled` has the equivalent environment variable `RPK_TLS_ENABLED`. Some of the common configuration properties apply across all `rpk` commands as defaults. These default properties have keys with names starting with `globals`, and they’re viewable in `rpk -X list` and `rpk -X help`. For more details, see [`rpk -X options`](https://docs.redpanda.com/streaming/25.3/reference/rpk/rpk-x-options/). ### [](#environment-variables)Environment variables `rpk` supports environment variables through `RPK_*` that correspond to `-X` options. For a comprehensive list and configuration examples, see: - [rpk profiles](https://docs.redpanda.com/streaming/25.3/get-started/config-rpk-profile/) - Create and manage persistent configurations (recommended) - [rpk -X options](https://docs.redpanda.com/streaming/25.3/reference/rpk/rpk-x-options/) - Complete configuration reference including environment variables ## [](#next-steps)Next steps - [Install or Update rpk](https://docs.redpanda.com/streaming/25.3/get-started/rpk-install/) - [rpk Command reference](https://docs.redpanda.com/streaming/25.3/reference/rpk/)