- A
Add a Retry clause in the Lambda function's configuration with a maximum retry count of 3.
Why wrong: Lambda functions do not have a built-in retry configuration; retry logic must be implemented in the caller (Step Functions).
- B
Use the Amazon States Language (ASL) Retry field in the Task state definition.
The ASL Retry field allows defining retry policies, including exponential backoff and maximum retry attempts.
- C
Wrap the Lambda function invocation in a custom while loop within the function code.
Why wrong: This would require modifying the Lambda code and is not a standard pattern; it also loses the benefits of Step Functions orchestration.
- D
Use the Amazon States Language Catch field in the Task state to redirect to a retry logic.
Why wrong: The Catch field is used to handle errors after retries are exhausted or to transition to a different state, not to implement retry logic.
DVA-C02 Development with AWS Services Practice Question
This DVA-C02 practice question tests your understanding of development with aws services. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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 Step Functions to orchestrate multiple AWS Lambda functions. One of the Lambda functions occasionally fails due to a transient error. The developer wants the Step Functions execution to automatically retry the failed task up to three times with exponential backoff. Which configuration should the developer set in the Step Functions state machine definition?
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 Amazon States Language (ASL) Retry field in the Task state definition.
Option B is correct because the Amazon States Language (ASL) provides a native Retry field within a Task state definition that allows you to specify retry policies, including a maximum retry count and exponential backoff. This is the intended mechanism for handling transient failures in Step Functions without requiring custom code or external retry logic.
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.
- ✗
Add a Retry clause in the Lambda function's configuration with a maximum retry count of 3.
Why it's wrong here
Lambda functions do not have a built-in retry configuration; retry logic must be implemented in the caller (Step Functions).
- ✓
Use the Amazon States Language (ASL) Retry field in the Task state definition.
Why this is correct
The ASL Retry field allows defining retry policies, including exponential backoff and maximum retry attempts.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Wrap the Lambda function invocation in a custom while loop within the function code.
Why it's wrong here
This would require modifying the Lambda code and is not a standard pattern; it also loses the benefits of Step Functions orchestration.
- ✗
Use the Amazon States Language Catch field in the Task state to redirect to a retry logic.
Why it's wrong here
The Catch field is used to handle errors after retries are exhausted or to transition to a different state, not to implement retry logic.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates confuse the Retry field (for retries) with the Catch field (for error handling) or mistakenly think retry logic belongs in the Lambda function code rather than in the state machine definition.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The Retry field in ASL supports exponential backoff via the 'BackoffRate' parameter (default 2.0) and 'IntervalSeconds' (default 1), allowing you to fine-tune retry delays. A subtle behavior is that if all retries are exhausted, the error propagates to the Catch field if defined, enabling a fallback state; otherwise, the execution fails. In real-world scenarios, this is critical for handling Lambda throttling (e.g., RateExceeded errors) or transient service errors without custom code.
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: Use the Amazon States Language (ASL) Retry field in the Task state definition. — Option B is correct because the Amazon States Language (ASL) provides a native Retry field within a Task state definition that allows you to specify retry policies, including a maximum retry count and exponential backoff. This is the intended mechanism for handling transient failures in Step Functions without requiring custom code or external retry logic.
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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