---
title: "labels"
linkTitle: "labels"
type: docs
weight: 10
description: >
    Add labels and optionally selectors to all resources.
---

A field that allows adding labels without also automatically injecting corresponding selectors.
This can be used instead of the `commonLabels` field, which always adds selectors.

{{% pageinfo color="warning" %}}
Selectors for resources such as Deployments and Services shouldn't be changed once the
resource has been applied to a cluster.

Changing `includeSelectors` to `true` or changing labels when `includeSelectors` is `true` in live resources
is equivalent to changing `commonLabels` and could result in failures.
{{% /pageinfo %}}

The following flags are available:
* `includeTemplates`: When set will also apply labels to metadata/labels and spec/template/metadata/labels. This can be used to add labels to Pods from owner resources, such as Deployments and StatefulSets, without modifying selectors. False by default.
* `includeSelectors`: When set will apply labels to metadata/labels, selectors, and spec/template/metadata/labels. False by default.

```yaml
apiVersion: kustomize.config.k8s.io/v1beta1
kind: Kustomization

labels:
  - pairs:
      someName: someValue
      owner: alice
      app: bingo
    includeSelectors: true # <-- false by default
    includeTemplates: true # <-- false by default
```

## Example 1 - selectors and templates NOT modified

### File Input

```yaml
# kustomization.yaml
apiVersion: kustomize.config.k8s.io/v1beta1
kind: Kustomization

labels:
  - pairs:
      someName: someValue
      owner: alice
      app: bingo

resources:
- deploy.yaml
- service.yaml
```

```yaml
# deploy.yaml
apiVersion: apps/v1
kind: Deployment
metadata:
  name: example
```

```yaml
# service.yaml
apiVersion: v1
kind: Service
metadata:
  name: example
```

### Build Output

```yaml
apiVersion: v1
kind: Service
metadata:
  labels:
    app: bingo
    owner: alice
    someName: someValue
  name: example
---
apiVersion: apps/v1
kind: Deployment
metadata:
  labels:
    app: bingo
    owner: alice
    someName: someValue
  name: example
```


## Example 2 - selectors modified

### File Input

```yaml
# kustomization.yaml
apiVersion: kustomize.config.k8s.io/v1beta1
kind: Kustomization

labels:
  - pairs:
      someName: someValue
      owner: alice
      app: bingo
    includeSelectors: true 

resources:
- deploy.yaml
- service.yaml
```

```yaml
# deploy.yaml
apiVersion: apps/v1
kind: Deployment
metadata:
  name: example
```

```yaml
# service.yaml
apiVersion: v1
kind: Service
metadata:
  name: example
```

### Build Output

```yaml
apiVersion: v1
kind: Service
metadata:
  labels:
    app: bingo
    owner: alice
    someName: someValue
  name: example
spec:
  selector:
    app: bingo
    owner: alice
    someName: someValue
---
apiVersion: apps/v1
kind: Deployment
metadata:
  labels:
    app: bingo
    owner: alice
    someName: someValue
  name: example
spec:
  selector:
    matchLabels:
      app: bingo
      owner: alice
      someName: someValue
  template:
    metadata:
      labels:
        app: bingo
        owner: alice
        someName: someValue
```

## Example 3 - templates modified

### File Input

```yaml
# kustomization.yaml
apiVersion: kustomize.config.k8s.io/v1beta1
kind: Kustomization

labels:
  - pairs:
      someName: someValue
      owner: alice
      app: bingo
    includeTemplates: true 

resources:
- deploy.yaml
- service.yaml
```

```yaml
# deploy.yaml
apiVersion: apps/v1
kind: Deployment
metadata:
  name: example
```

```yaml
# service.yaml
apiVersion: v1
kind: Service
metadata:
  name: example
```

### Build Output

```yaml
apiVersion: v1
kind: Service
metadata:
  labels:
    app: bingo
    owner: alice
    someName: someValue
  name: example
---
apiVersion: apps/v1
kind: Deployment
metadata:
  labels:
    app: bingo
    owner: alice
    someName: someValue
  name: example
spec:
  template:
    metadata:
      labels:
        app: bingo
        owner: alice
        someName: someValue
```