- A
Amazon ElastiCache
Correct. ElastiCache provides an in-memory cache that is ephemeral (by default) and can be shared across all EC2 instances, making it ideal for session state in a distributed environment.
- B
Amazon RDS
Why wrong: Incorrect. RDS is a relational database that provides persistent storage. Session state data does not need to survive instance termination; using RDS would be unnecessary for the stated requirement and slower than in-memory caching.
- C
Amazon S3
Why wrong: Incorrect. S3 is object storage with higher latency and is not designed for ephemeral session state. It is also not automatically cleaned up when a session ends without explicit deletion.
- D
Amazon EFS
Why wrong: Incorrect. EFS provides persistent file storage that can be mounted on multiple instances. While it can be used for session state, it is not ephemeral; data persists after instance termination, which is not desired in this scenario.
DVA-C02 Development with AWS Services Practice Question
This DVA-C02 practice question tests your understanding of development with aws services. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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 wants to store session state data for a web application running on multiple EC2 instances behind an Application Load Balancer. The data is ephemeral and should not persist if an instance is terminated. Which storage option should the developer use?
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
Amazon ElastiCache
Amazon ElastiCache is the correct choice because it provides an in-memory caching service (e.g., Redis or Memcached) that is ideal for storing ephemeral session state data. The data is stored in memory, not on disk, so it is automatically lost when an EC2 instance is terminated, matching the requirement that session data should not persist. Additionally, ElastiCache is designed for low-latency access, making it suitable for session state that must be quickly read and written by multiple instances behind an Application Load Balancer.
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.
- ✓
Amazon ElastiCache
Why this is correct
Correct. ElastiCache provides an in-memory cache that is ephemeral (by default) and can be shared across all EC2 instances, making it ideal for session state in a distributed environment.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Amazon RDS
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. RDS is a relational database that provides persistent storage. Session state data does not need to survive instance termination; using RDS would be unnecessary for the stated requirement and slower than in-memory caching.
- ✗
Amazon S3
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. S3 is object storage with higher latency and is not designed for ephemeral session state. It is also not automatically cleaned up when a session ends without explicit deletion.
- ✗
Amazon EFS
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. EFS provides persistent file storage that can be mounted on multiple instances. While it can be used for session state, it is not ephemeral; data persists after instance termination, which is not desired in this scenario.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often choose Amazon EFS because it is shared storage accessible by multiple EC2 instances, but they overlook the explicit requirement that data must be ephemeral and not persist after instance termination, which EFS violates by design.
Trap categories for this question
Scenario analysis trap
Incorrect. EFS provides persistent file storage that can be mounted on multiple instances. While it can be used for session state, it is not ephemeral; data persists after instance termination, which is not desired in this scenario.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, ElastiCache for Redis stores session data as key-value pairs in memory, using the Redis protocol (TCP port 6379) for sub-millisecond read/write operations. A subtle behavior is that ElastiCache nodes can be configured with replication and snapshots, but by default, data is volatile and lost on node failure or termination unless persistence features (e.g., append-only file or Redis persistence) are explicitly enabled, which the developer should avoid to meet the ephemeral requirement. In a real-world scenario, a web application using sticky sessions (session affinity) on the ALB can offload session state to ElastiCache, allowing any instance to handle any request without data loss on instance termination.
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 media company stores terabytes of video archives that are accessed once a year for audit purposes. Moving these objects to a cold storage tier (Azure Archive, S3 Glacier, or Google Nearline) costs a fraction of hot storage. Questions like this test whether you understand storage tiers, access frequency tradeoffs, and retrieval latency requirements.
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.
- →
Development with AWS Services — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
- →
Development with AWS Services practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
- →
All DVA-C02 questions
1,616 questions across all exam domains
- →
AWS Certified Developer Associate DVA-C02 study guide
Full concept coverage aligned to exam objectives
- →
DVA-C02 practice test guide
How to use practice tests most effectively before exam day
Related practice questions
Related DVA-C02 practice-question pages
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
Development with AWS Services practice questions
Practise DVA-C02 questions linked to Development with AWS Services.
Security practice questions
Practise DVA-C02 questions linked to Security.
Deployment practice questions
Practise DVA-C02 questions linked to Deployment.
Troubleshooting and Optimization practice questions
Practise DVA-C02 questions linked to Troubleshooting and Optimization.
DVA-C02 fundamentals practice questions
Practise DVA-C02 questions linked to DVA-C02 fundamentals.
DVA-C02 scenario practice questions
Practise DVA-C02 questions linked to DVA-C02 scenario.
DVA-C02 troubleshooting practice questions
Practise DVA-C02 questions linked to DVA-C02 troubleshooting.
Practice this exam
Start a free DVA-C02 practice session
Short sessions build daily habit. Longer sessions build exam-day stamina. Try a timed session to simulate real conditions.
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: Amazon ElastiCache — Amazon ElastiCache is the correct choice because it provides an in-memory caching service (e.g., Redis or Memcached) that is ideal for storing ephemeral session state data. The data is stored in memory, not on disk, so it is automatically lost when an EC2 instance is terminated, matching the requirement that session data should not persist. Additionally, ElastiCache is designed for low-latency access, making it suitable for session state that must be quickly read and written by multiple instances behind an Application Load Balancer.
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.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
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.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.