The correct answer is to define the Lambda functions using the implicit API Gateway and reference the `ServerlessRestApi` output in the function's environment variables. This works because AWS SAM automatically creates an implicit REST API with the logical ID `ServerlessRestApi` when you use the `Events` property on a function, and CloudFormation resolves the `Fn::Sub` intrinsic function reference—such as `!Sub 'https://${ServerlessRestApi}.execute-api.${AWS::Region}.amazonaws.com/${Stage}'`—as a hard dependency, ensuring the API Gateway URL is available before the Lambda functions are deployed. On the DVA-C02 exam, this tests your understanding of SAM’s implicit resource creation and CloudFormation dependency resolution, often appearing as a scenario where a developer mistakenly tries to define a separate explicit API resource or uses `DependsOn` unnecessarily. A common trap is forgetting that the implicit API’s stage name defaults to "Prod" and must be included in the URL reference. Memory tip: think "SAM’s ServerlessRestApi is your automatic dependency bridge—reference it, don’t re-create it."
DVA-C02 Deployment Practice Question
This DVA-C02 practice question tests your understanding of deployment. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A developer is deploying a serverless application using AWS SAM. The application consists of multiple Lambda functions and an API Gateway REST API. The developer needs to ensure that the API Gateway endpoint is created before the Lambda functions are deployed, because the functions need the endpoint URL as an environment variable. How should the developer configure the SAM template?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Define the Lambda functions to use the ServerlessRestApi implicit API and reference the API's output in the function's environment variables
Option C is correct because AWS SAM automatically creates an implicit API GatewayREST API (logical ID `ServerlessRestApi`) when you define an `AWS::Serverless::Api` or use the `Events` property on a function. You can reference its endpoint URL using the `Fn::Sub` intrinsic function with the `ServerlessRestApi` logical ID, such as `!Sub 'https://${ServerlessRestApi}.execute-api.${AWS::Region}.amazonaws.com/${Stage}'`. This ensures the API Gateway resource is created before the Lambda functions that reference it, as CloudFormation resolves dependencies through intrinsic function references.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✗
Separate the deployment into two stacks: first deploy API Gateway, then deploy Lambda functions
Why it's wrong here
Unnecessary complexity.
✗
Add a DependsOn clause to each Lambda function resource to wait for the API Gateway resource
Why it's wrong here
DependsOn is not needed if functions reference the API.
✓
Define the Lambda functions to use the ServerlessRestApi implicit API and reference the API's output in the function's environment variables
Why this is correct
SAM creates dependencies automatically.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Use a custom resource in CloudFormation to create the API Gateway endpoint before Lambda functions
Why it's wrong here
Not needed.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may think `DependsOn` is sufficient to pass the endpoint URL, but it only orders creation and does not inject the URL into environment variables, which requires an intrinsic function reference like `Fn::Sub` or `Fn::GetAtt`.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, when you define an `AWS::Serverless::Function` with an `Events` property of type `Api`, SAM generates an `AWS::ApiGateway::RestApi` resource and a `AWS::Lambda::Permission` resource. The `ServerlessRestApi` logical ID is reserved by SAM and its attributes (like `RestApiId`) can be used in `Fn::Sub` or `Fn::GetAtt`. A subtle behavior is that if you define multiple APIs explicitly, you must use the logical ID of the specific `AWS::Serverless::Api` resource instead of `ServerlessRestApi`. In real-world scenarios, this pattern is essential for passing the stage-specific invoke URL to Lambda functions for dynamic client configuration.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
→Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
→Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A cloud solutions architect for a retail company is evaluating services for a new workload. The correct answer here reflects best practice for the specific scenario described — not a general cloud recommendation. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Cloud exam questions reward reading the constraint carefully: the same technology can be right or wrong depending on the use case.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Deployment — This question tests Deployment — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Define the Lambda functions to use the ServerlessRestApi implicit API and reference the API's output in the function's environment variables — Option C is correct because AWS SAM automatically creates an implicit API Gateway REST API (logical ID `ServerlessRestApi`) when you define an `AWS::Serverless::Api` or use the `Events` property on a function. You can reference its endpoint URL using the `Fn::Sub` intrinsic function with the `ServerlessRestApi` logical ID, such as `!Sub 'https://${ServerlessRestApi}.execute-api.${AWS::Region}.amazonaws.com/${Stage}'`. This ensures the API Gateway resource is created before the Lambda functions that reference it, as CloudFormation resolves dependencies through intrinsic function references.
What should I do if I get this DVA-C02 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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