# rpk shadow describe

> 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: rpk shadow describe
latest-redpanda-tag: v26.1.14
latest-console-tag: v3.10.0
latest-operator-version: v26.2.1
# EOL = End-of-Life (support lifecycle status)
page-is-nearing-eol: "false"
page-is-past-eol: "false"
page-eol-date: March 31, 2027
latest-connect-version: 4.105.0
docname: rpk/rpk-shadow/rpk-shadow-describe
page-component-name: streaming
page-version: "26.1"
page-component-version: "26.1"
page-component-title: Streaming
page-relative-src-path: rpk/rpk-shadow/rpk-shadow-describe.adoc
page-edit-url: https://github.com/redpanda-data/docs/edit/v/26.1/modules/reference/pages/rpk/rpk-shadow/rpk-shadow-describe.adoc
description: Describe one or more shadow links. For Redpanda Cloud, <code>rpk</code> uses the Redpanda ID of the cluster you are currently logged in to.
page-git-created-date: "2025-11-19"
page-git-modified-date: "2026-07-17"
support-status: supported
---

<!-- Source: https://docs.redpanda.com/streaming/26.1/reference/rpk/rpk-shadow/rpk-shadow-describe.md -->

Describe one or more shadow links. For Redpanda Cloud, `rpk` uses the Redpanda ID of the cluster you are currently logged in to.

## [](#usage)Usage

```bash
rpk shadow describe <link_name> [flags]
```

## [](#examples)Examples

This section provides examples of how to use `rpk shadow describe`.

Describe a shadow link with default sections (overview and client).

```bash
rpk shadow describe my-shadow-link
```

Display all configuration sections.

```bash
rpk shadow describe my-shadow-link --print-all
```

Display specific sections.

```bash
rpk shadow describe my-shadow-link --print-overview --print-topic
```

Display only the client configuration.

```bash
rpk shadow describe my-shadow-link -c
```

## [](#flags)Flags

| Value | Type | Description |
| --- | --- | --- |
| --format | string | Output format (json,yaml,text,wide,help). |
| -a, --print-all | bool | Print all sections. |
| -c, --print-client | bool | Print the client configuration section. |
| -r, --print-consumer | bool | Print the detailed consumer offset configuration section. |
| -o, --print-overview | bool | Print the overview section. |
| -y, --print-registry | bool | Print the detailed schema registry configuration section. |
| -s, --print-security | bool | Print the detailed security configuration section. |
| -t, --print-topic | bool | Print the detailed topic configuration section. |

## [](#global-flags)Global flags

| Value | Type | Description |
| --- | --- | --- |
| --config | string | Redpanda or rpk config file; default search paths are ~/.config/rpk/rpk.yaml, $PWD/redpanda.yaml, and /etc/redpanda/redpanda.yaml. |
| -X, --config-opt | stringArray | Override rpk configuration settings; -X help for detail or -X list for terser detail. |
| --ignore-profile | bool | Ignore rpk.yaml and redpanda.yaml; use default settings. |
| --profile | string | rpk profile to use. |
| -v, --verbose | bool | Enable verbose logging. |