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. A key principle to apply: usage plans define throttling and quota limits for API keys.. 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 building a REST API using Amazon API Gateway and AWS Lambda. The API must support request validation, request throttling, and API keys. Which API Gateway feature should the developer use to enforce a daily request limit for each API key?
Usage plans
Correct. Usage plans let you define quotas and throttling limits for each API key.
API keys
Why wrong: API keys are used for client identification but do not enforce rate limits or quotas by themselves.
Throttling settings at the method level
Why wrong: Method-level throttling applies the same limits to all clients, not per API key.
AWS WAF
Why wrong: WAF is for filtering malicious requests, not for managing API key quotas.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Usage plans
Usage plans in API Gateway allow you to set throttling and quota limits per API key, enabling daily request limits for each key. This feature is specifically designed to control usage by associating API keys with a plan that defines rate limits and quotas, such as a daily request cap. Option A is correct because it directly addresses the requirement to enforce a daily request limit per API key.
Key principle: Usage plans define throttling and quota limits for API keys.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Usage plans
Why this is correct
Correct. Usage plans let you define quotas and throttling limits for each API key.
Related concept
Usage plans define throttling and quota limits for API keys.
API keys
Why it's wrong here
API keys are used for client identification but do not enforce rate limits or quotas by themselves.
Throttling settings at the method level
Why it's wrong here
Method-level throttling applies the same limits to all clients, not per API key.
AWS WAF
Why it's wrong here
WAF is for filtering malicious requests, not for managing API key quotas.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates often confuse API keys with usage plans, thinking that simply enabling API keys automatically enforces throttling or quotas, but API keys alone provide no rate limiting without a usage plan.
Detailed technical explanation
Usage plans work by associating an API key with a plan that defines a quota (e.g., 1000 requests per day) and throttling limits (e.g., 10 requests per second). Under the hood, API Gateway tracks request counts per key using a token bucket algorithm, and once the daily quota is exceeded, it returns a 429 Too Many Requests error. In a real-world scenario, a developer might use usage plans to offer tiered pricing (e.g., free tier with 1000 requests/day, paid tier with 10000 requests/day) by creating separate usage plans and distributing different API keys to customers.
Key takeaway
Usage plans define throttling and quota limits for API keys.
Real-world example
A company's IT admin needs to give a contractor read-only access to production logs without sharing account credentials. Using role-based access control (RBAC) and temporary scoped permissions — not a permanent shared password — is the correct pattern. Questions like this test whether you can apply least-privilege access across cloud identity services.
What to study next
Review usage plans define throttling and quota limits for API keys., then practise related DVA-C02 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
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FAQ
Development with AWS Services — This question tests Development with AWS Services — Usage plans define throttling and quota limits for API keys..
The correct answer is: Usage plans — Usage plans in API Gateway allow you to set throttling and quota limits per API key, enabling daily request limits for each key. This feature is specifically designed to control usage by associating API keys with a plan that defines rate limits and quotas, such as a daily request cap. Option A is correct because it directly addresses the requirement to enforce a daily request limit per API key.
Review usage plans define throttling and quota limits for API keys., then practise related DVA-C02 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
Usage plans define throttling and quota limits for API keys.
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
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