DBS-C01 Workload-Specific Database Design Practice Question
A gaming company uses Amazon DynamoDB as the database for user profiles and game state. The application requires strongly consistent reads for the user's own profile, but eventually consistent reads for leaderboard queries. How should the company design the table and queries?
⚠ Common exam trap
Test-takers frequently assume strong consistency requires a separate table or a caching layer like DAX, but DynamoDB natively supports both consistency models on the same table via a simple API parameter, making the other options over-engineered or incorrect.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Use the ConsistentRead parameter set to true for profile queries and false for leaderboard queries.
DynamoDB supports both strongly consistent reads and eventually consistent reads on the same table, controlled by the `ConsistentRead` parameter in the `GetItem`, `Query`, or `Scan` API calls. Setting `ConsistentRead=true` for profile queries ensures the most up-to-date data, while `ConsistentRead=false` (the default) for leaderboard queries provides lower latency and higher throughput, which is ideal for read-heavy, non-critical data. This design avoids the cost and complexity of multiple tables or additional services.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Create two separate tables: one for strong consistency and one for eventual consistency.
Why it's wrong here
Unnecessary; DynamoDB supports consistency levels per request.
- ✓
Use the ConsistentRead parameter set to true for profile queries and false for leaderboard queries.
Why this is correct
This allows per-request consistency control.
- ✗
Enable DynamoDB Accelerator (DAX) for strong consistency on all reads.
Why it's wrong here
DAX provides eventual consistency; strong consistency reads must go directly to DynamoDB.
- ✗
Configure DynamoDB Streams to replicate data to a second table for strong consistency.
Why it's wrong here
Streams are for change data capture, not for consistency control.
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