# What does the annotation kustomize.toolkit.fluxcd.io/ssa: IfNotPresent do on an object in a Flux source?

Flux CD, Hard (Expert), Concepts. https://k8wiz.com/uquiz/what-does-the-annotation-kustomizetoolkitfluxcdiossa-ifnotpresent-do-on-an-object-in-a-flux-source

- A. Flux applies the object only when Helm doesn't already manage it
- B. Flux skips the object until its namespace has been created
- C. Flux creates the object if it doesn't exist and never updates it afterwards
- D. Flux applies only the fields that are missing from the live object

**Answer:** Flux creates the object if it doesn't exist and never updates it afterwards

**Explanation:** IfNotPresent suits objects that other controllers change after creation, such as Secrets and webhook configurations that cert-manager fills in. Merge keeps fields added by other tools when they don't overlap, Ignore skips the object, and the default, Override, applies the state from the source.