- A
Use DynamoDB Accelerator (DAX) to cache Lambda responses.
Why wrong: DAX is for DynamoDB caching, not API responses.
- B
Use ElastiCache for Redis to store frequently accessed responses.
Why wrong: ElastiCache is not natively integrated with API Gateway for response caching.
- C
Use Amazon CloudFront in front of API Gateway to cache responses.
Why wrong: CloudFront can cache, but API Gateway caching is simpler and more integrated.
- D
Enable API Gateway caching and set a TTL for the cache.
API Gateway caching stores responses and reduces Lambda invocations.
- E
Configure the Lambda function to return cache-control headers in the response.
Cache-control headers allow API Gateway to cache the response.
Question 1,465 of 1,616
API Gateway Caching: Reduce Latency and Cost with Cache and TTL
This DVA-C02 practice question tests your understanding of development with aws services. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. 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 designing a serverless application that uses Amazon API Gateway and AWS Lambda. The API receives a high volume of requests, and the developer needs to cache responses to reduce latency and cost. Which TWO actions should the developer take? (Choose TWO.)
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
✓
Enable API Gateway caching and set a TTL for the cache.
Option D is correct because API Gateway provides a built-in caching layer that stores responses from backend integrations, reducing the number of calls to the Lambda function and lowering latency. By enabling caching and setting a Time-to-Live (TTL), the developer can control how long cached responses remain valid, directly addressing the need to reduce cost and latency for high-volume requests.
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.
- ✗
Use DynamoDB Accelerator (DAX) to cache Lambda responses.
Why it's wrong here
DAX is for DynamoDB caching, not API responses.
- ✗
Use ElastiCache for Redis to store frequently accessed responses.
Why it's wrong here
ElastiCache is not natively integrated with API Gateway for response caching.
- ✗
Use Amazon CloudFront in front of API Gateway to cache responses.
Why it's wrong here
CloudFront can cache, but API Gateway caching is simpler and more integrated.
- ✓
Enable API Gateway caching and set a TTL for the cache.
Why this is correct
API Gateway caching stores responses and reduces Lambda invocations.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
Configure the Lambda function to return cache-control headers in the response.
Why this is correct
Cache-control headers allow API Gateway to cache the response.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse server-side caching (API Gateway caching) with client-side caching (Cache-Control headers) or reach for external caching services like ElastiCache or DAX, not realizing that API Gateway's built-in caching is the simplest and most cost-effective solution for this specific use case.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
API Gateway caching works by storing responses in a dedicated cache cluster per stage, with a configurable TTL (default 300 seconds, max 3600 seconds). When a request's cache key (based on parameters, headers, or stage variables) matches a cached entry, API Gateway returns the cached response without invoking the Lambda function, drastically reducing latency and Lambda invocations. The cache-control headers returned by the Lambda function (Option E) can override the default TTL on a per-response basis, allowing fine-grained control over cache duration for different endpoints.
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 startup's cloud architect reviews their monthly bill and notices costs are higher than expected for a long-running batch job. Switching from on-demand instances to Reserved Instances — or using Spot/Preemptible VMs — can reduce compute costs by up to 72 %. Questions like this test whether you understand the tradeoffs between commitment, flexibility, and cost across cloud pricing models.
Quick reference
Cloud Service Model Comparison
| Model | You Manage | Provider Manages | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| IaaS | OS, runtime, apps, data | Hardware, hypervisor, networking | EC2, Azure VMs, GCP Compute Engine |
| PaaS | Apps and data | OS, runtime, middleware, hardware | Elastic Beanstalk, Azure App Service |
| SaaS | Data and settings only | Everything else | Microsoft 365, Salesforce, Workday |
| FaaS / Serverless | Function code only | Infra, scaling, runtime | Lambda, Azure Functions, Cloud Run |
| CaaS | Containers and apps | Kubernetes, OS, hardware | EKS, AKS, GKE |
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.
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Development with AWS Services — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this DVA-C02 question test?
Development with AWS Services — This question tests Development with AWS Services — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Enable API Gateway caching and set a TTL for the cache. — Option D is correct because API Gateway provides a built-in caching layer that stores responses from backend integrations, reducing the number of calls to the Lambda function and lowering latency. By enabling caching and setting a Time-to-Live (TTL), the developer can control how long cached responses remain valid, directly addressing the need to reduce cost and latency for high-volume requests.
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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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
This DVA-C02 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Amazon Web Services certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the DVA-C02 exam.
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