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 using AWS AppSync to build a GraphQL API. The API needs to allow clients to receive real-time updates when data changes in a DynamoDB table. Which AppSync feature should the developer use?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Subscriptions
Subscriptions in AWS AppSync are the feature designed for real-time updates. They use WebSocket connections to push data to clients automatically when a mutation modifies the underlying data source, such as a DynamoDB table. By configuring a subscription on a specific mutation, the developer enables clients to receive live changes without polling.
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.
✗
Resolvers
Why it's wrong here
Resolvers connect GraphQL fields to a data source (like DynamoDB) but do not push real-time updates to clients.
✓
Subscriptions
Why this is correct
Subscriptions enable real-time notifications. When a mutation is performed, subscribed clients receive the updated data via WebSocket.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Queries
Why it's wrong here
Queries are for one-time retrieval of data; they do not push updates.
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Mutations
Why it's wrong here
Mutations are for writing data (create, update, delete). They can trigger subscriptions but do not themselves provide real-time updates.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse mutations (which trigger the update) with subscriptions (which deliver the update), leading them to select 'Mutations' instead of 'Subscriptions'.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, AppSync subscriptions rely on WebSocket connections managed by the AppSync service. When a mutation is executed, AppSync evaluates the subscription resolver's response mapping template and pushes the result to all connected clients that have subscribed to that mutation. A common real-world scenario is a chat application where a new message mutation triggers a subscription to deliver the message to all participants instantly.
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.
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: Subscriptions — Subscriptions in AWS AppSync are the feature designed for real-time updates. They use WebSocket connections to push data to clients automatically when a mutation modifies the underlying data source, such as a DynamoDB table. By configuring a subscription on a specific mutation, the developer enables clients to receive live changes without polling.
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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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
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