- A
Define a SAM Parameter for the stage name, and reference it in the Lambda function's Environment property
SAM Parameters are the standard way to inject deployment-time values. You can reference the parameter directly in the Environment.Variables section to set variables like STAGE.
- B
Use the Globals section of the SAM template to set environment variables
Why wrong: Globals can set default values for all functions but cannot dynamically change based on a deployment parameter.
- C
Hard-code the environment variables with different values in the template
Why wrong: Hard-coding prevents reuse of the same template for multiple stages and is not a best practice.
- D
Use an AWS Systems Manager Parameter Store parameter and reference it in the function
Why wrong: While this works, it adds complexity. The question asks for the most efficient way in SAM; using a SAM Parameter is simpler and more straightforward for stage-based values.
DVA-C02 Development with AWS Services Practice Question
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 building a serverless application using AWS SAM that includes an API Gateway REST API and a Lambda function. The developer wants to pass environment variables to the Lambda function based on the deployment stage (dev/prod). The stage name is provided as a SAM parameter. How should the developer define this in the SAM template?
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
Define a SAM Parameter for the stage name, and reference it in the Lambda function's Environment property
Option A is correct because AWS SAM allows you to define parameters (e.g., StageName) and reference them directly in the Lambda function's Environment property using CloudFormation intrinsic functions like !Ref. This enables dynamic injection of environment variables based on the deployment stage without modifying the template structure, aligning with Infrastructure as Code best practices for multi-environment deployments.
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.
- ✓
Define a SAM Parameter for the stage name, and reference it in the Lambda function's Environment property
Why this is correct
SAM Parameters are the standard way to inject deployment-time values. You can reference the parameter directly in the Environment.Variables section to set variables like STAGE.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Use the Globals section of the SAM template to set environment variables
Why it's wrong here
Globals can set default values for all functions but cannot dynamically change based on a deployment parameter.
- ✗
Hard-code the environment variables with different values in the template
Why it's wrong here
Hard-coding prevents reuse of the same template for multiple stages and is not a best practice.
- ✗
Use an AWS Systems Manager Parameter Store parameter and reference it in the function
Why it's wrong here
While this works, it adds complexity. The question asks for the most efficient way in SAM; using a SAM Parameter is simpler and more straightforward for stage-based values.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may overcomplicate the solution by choosing Parameter Store (Option D) for dynamic values, missing that SAM parameters are the simplest native mechanism for stage-specific environment variables without external service dependencies.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, SAM transforms the template into an AWS CloudFormation stack, where the Parameter is resolved at deployment time. The Lambda function's Environment property accepts key-value pairs that can include !Ref to the parameter, allowing the same template to produce different environment variable values for dev and prod stacks. A subtle behavior is that SAM parameters must be explicitly passed via the --parameter-overrides flag during deployment, or they default to the template's Default value, which can lead to unintended stage configurations if not managed carefully.
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.
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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: Define a SAM Parameter for the stage name, and reference it in the Lambda function's Environment property — Option A is correct because AWS SAM allows you to define parameters (e.g., StageName) and reference them directly in the Lambda function's Environment property using CloudFormation intrinsic functions like !Ref. This enables dynamic injection of environment variables based on the deployment stage without modifying the template structure, aligning with Infrastructure as Code best practices for multi-environment deployments.
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: Jun 11, 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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