DVA-C02 Deployment Practice Question
A developer is using AWS SAM to define a serverless application. The application includes an AWS Lambda function and an Amazon API Gateway REST API. The developer wants to configure the API Gateway stage to enable logging and set the stage name based on the SAM parameter Stage. In the SAM template, which property of the AWS::Serverless::Api resource should the developer use to set the stage name?
⚠ Common exam trap
Many candidates confuse `StageName` with `StageDescription` (Option C) because both relate to stage configuration, but `StageDescription` only provides metadata and does not control the actual stage identifier used in the API endpoint URL.
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
✓
StageName
The `StageName` property of the `AWS::Serverless::Api` resource directly sets the stage name for the API Gateway REST API. By using a SAM parameter like `Stage` (e.g., `StageName: !Ref Stage`), the developer can dynamically control the stage name at deployment time. This is the intended and simplest way to configure the stage name in an AWS SAM template.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
StageName
Why this is correct
The StageName property within an AWS::Serverless::Api resource in AWS SAM is precisely what defines the name of the Amazon API Gateway deployment stage. This critical property allows developers to specify a logical identifier for a particular deployment, such as Prod, Dev, or Test, which is essential for managing different environments. It frequently leverages SAM parameters, like !Ref Stage, enabling dynamic stage naming based on deployment inputs, ensuring flexibility and reusability across various CI/CD pipelines.
- ✗
DefinitionBody
Why it's wrong here
The DefinitionBody property is used to embed the OpenAPI (formerly Swagger) specification directly within the SAM template, defining the API's structure, resources, methods, and integration points. This property dictates the functional contract of the API itself, detailing paths, request/response models, and backend integrations, such as Lambda functions. While fundamental to the API's design, it solely focuses on the API's operational definition and has no role in setting or configuring the API Gateway deployment stage's name.
- ✗
StageDescription
Why it's wrong here
The StageDescription property serves purely as a descriptive field for an API Gateway stage, providing human-readable context or notes about that specific deployment stage. Its purpose is to offer additional metadata for administrative clarity within the AWS console or for documentation purposes, helping teams understand the stage's intent or characteristics. However, this property does not influence or determine the actual, functional name by which the API Gateway stage is identified and accessed.
- ✗
EndpointConfiguration
Why it's wrong here
The EndpointConfiguration property specifies the type of endpoint for the API Gateway, such as REGIONAL, EDGE, or PRIVATE. This configuration dictates the network architecture and accessibility of the API, influencing latency, cost, and security posture by defining where the API requests are routed and processed. While crucial for the API's global distribution and network setup, it is entirely unrelated to the logical naming of a specific deployment stage within API Gateway.
Quick reference
Cloud Service Model Comparison
| Model | You Manage | Provider Manages | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| IaaS | OS, runtime, apps, data | Hardware, hypervisor, networking | EC2, Azure VMs, GCP Compute Engine |
| PaaS | Apps and data | OS, runtime, middleware, hardware | Elastic Beanstalk, Azure App Service |
| SaaS | Data and settings only | Everything else | Microsoft 365, Salesforce, Workday |
| FaaS / Serverless | Function code only | Infra, scaling, runtime | Lambda, Azure Functions, Cloud Run |
| CaaS | Containers and apps | Kubernetes, OS, hardware | EKS, AKS, GKE |
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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