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Development with AWS Services →hardMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped

Avoid Hardcoded ARNs in CloudFormation Using Fn::GetAtt

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.

Exhibit

Refer to the exhibit.

{
  "AWSTemplateFormatVersion": "2010-09-09",
  "Resources": {
    "MyQueue": {
      "Type": "AWS::SQS::Queue",
      "Properties": {
        "QueueName": "my-queue",
        "RedrivePolicy": {
          "deadLetterTargetArn": "arn:aws:sqs:us-east-1:123456789012:my-dlq",
          "maxReceiveCount": 5
        }
      }
    },
    "MyDLQ": {
      "Type": "AWS::SQS::Queue",
      "Properties": {
        "QueueName": "my-dlq"
      }
    }
  }
}

A developer creates the CloudFormation stack with the template above. After the stack is created, messages that are not processed after 5 receives are moved to the DLQ. However, the developer notices that the RedrivePolicy references a queue ARN that is hardcoded. What is the best practice to avoid this hardcoded ARN?

Clue words in this question

Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.

  • Clue: "best"

    Why it matters: Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.

Exhibit

Refer to the exhibit.

{
  "AWSTemplateFormatVersion": "2010-09-09",
  "Resources": {
    "MyQueue": {
      "Type": "AWS::SQS::Queue",
      "Properties": {
        "QueueName": "my-queue",
        "RedrivePolicy": {
          "deadLetterTargetArn": "arn:aws:sqs:us-east-1:123456789012:my-dlq",
          "maxReceiveCount": 5
        }
      }
    },
    "MyDLQ": {
      "Type": "AWS::SQS::Queue",
      "Properties": {
        "QueueName": "my-dlq"
      }
    }
  }
}

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 Fn::GetAtt with "Arn" attribute on the DLQ resource.

Option D is correct because `Fn::GetAtt` with the `Arn` attribute retrieves the actual Amazon Resource Name (ARN) of the Dead Letter Queue (DLQ) resource dynamically at stack creation time. This avoids hardcoding the ARN, making the template portable across accounts and regions. The RedrivePolicy property requires the full ARN of the DLQ, and `Fn::GetAtt` is the intrinsic function designed to return resource attributes like ARN.

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 Ref to reference the DLQ's QueueName and construct the ARN.

    Why it's wrong here

    Ref returns the queue URL, not the ARN.

  • ✗

    Use Fn::Sub to substitute the queue name into a hardcoded ARN template.

    Why it's wrong here

    This still requires hardcoding the account ID and region.

  • ✗

    Use Fn::ImportValue to import the DLQ ARN from another stack.

    Why it's wrong here

    Importing is not necessary when the DLQ is defined in the same template.

  • ✓

    Use Fn::GetAtt with "Arn" attribute on the DLQ resource.

    Why this is correct

    Fn::GetAtt can retrieve the Arn attribute of a queue resource.

    Clue confirmation

    The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.

    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 `Ref` (which returns the QueueName or Queue URL) with `Fn::GetAtt` (which returns the ARN), leading them to choose Option A or attempt manual ARN construction with `Fn::Sub`.

Detailed technical explanation

How to think about this question

Under the hood, `Fn::GetAtt` retrieves the `Arn` attribute from the SQS queue resource metadata, which is generated by CloudFormation after the queue is created. This ARN includes the region, account ID, and queue name, ensuring it is always correct regardless of deployment context. In real-world scenarios, using `Fn::GetAtt` is essential when the DLQ is created in the same template and its ARN must be referenced in the RedrivePolicy of the source queue, as the ARN cannot be known until runtime.

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.

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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 Fn::GetAtt with "Arn" attribute on the DLQ resource. — Option D is correct because `Fn::GetAtt` with the `Arn` attribute retrieves the actual Amazon Resource Name (ARN) of the Dead Letter Queue (DLQ) resource dynamically at stack creation time. This avoids hardcoding the ARN, making the template portable across accounts and regions. The RedrivePolicy property requires the full ARN of the DLQ, and `Fn::GetAtt` is the intrinsic function designed to return resource attributes like ARN.

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.

Are there clue words in this question I should notice?

Yes — watch for: "best". Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.

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

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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.