- A
Manually delete the lock item from the DynamoDB table
Why wrong: This is possible but not the recommended practice; force-unlock is safer.
- B
Wait for the lock to expire automatically
Why wrong: Locks do not expire automatically.
- C
Run 'terraform force-unlock' with the lock ID
This is the intended way to remove a stuck lock.
- D
Delete the state file from S3 and re-run terraform init
Why wrong: This would destroy the state.
Question 232 of 1,750
How to Resolve Terraform State Lock Errors After Failed Apply
This DOP-C02 practice question tests your understanding of configuration management and iac. 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 company uses Terraform to manage AWS infrastructure. They have a state file stored in an S3 bucket with DynamoDB locking. After a failed 'terraform apply', the state file is locked. The DevOps engineer tries to run 'terraform plan' but gets an error: 'Error acquiring the state lock'. What should the engineer do to resolve this issue?
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
✓
Run 'terraform force-unlock' with the lock ID
Option C is correct because Terraform uses DynamoDB to implement state locking, and after a failed apply, the lock entry remains in the table. The `terraform force-unlock` command with the specific lock ID (obtained from the error message or via `terraform lock` commands) is the designed mechanism to manually release a stuck lock without corrupting the state file. This approach preserves the existing state and avoids data loss.
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.
- ✗
Manually delete the lock item from the DynamoDB table
Why it's wrong here
This is possible but not the recommended practice; force-unlock is safer.
- ✗
Wait for the lock to expire automatically
Why it's wrong here
Locks do not expire automatically.
- ✓
Run 'terraform force-unlock' with the lock ID
Why this is correct
This is the intended way to remove a stuck lock.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Delete the state file from S3 and re-run terraform init
Why it's wrong here
This would destroy the state.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates assume DynamoDB locks have a TTL or that manual deletion is safe, but AWS DynamoDB does not enforce TTL on lock items by default, and Terraform's locking protocol requires the lock ID to be explicitly provided to prevent accidental release of another process's lock.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, Terraform's state locking uses a DynamoDB table with a primary key (typically `LockID`) that stores a single item containing the lock ID, operation info, and a timestamp. The `force-unlock` command sends a DeleteItem request to DynamoDB for that specific lock ID, ensuring only the intended lock is removed. In real-world scenarios, a stuck lock often occurs when a CI/CD pipeline crashes mid-apply, and using `force-unlock` with the lock ID from the error message is the safe recovery path.
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.
Visual reference
Quick reference
AWS S3 Storage Class Comparison
| Storage Class | Min Duration | Retrieval | Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| S3 Standard | None | Immediate | Frequently accessed data |
| S3 Standard-IA | 30 days | Immediate | Infrequent access, rapid retrieval |
| S3 One Zone-IA | 30 days | Immediate | Non-critical infrequent data |
| S3 Intelligent-Tiering | None | Immediate–hours | Unknown or changing access patterns |
| S3 Glacier Instant | 90 days | Milliseconds | Archive with instant retrieval |
| S3 Glacier Flexible | 90 days | Minutes–hours | Archive, flexible retrieval |
| S3 Glacier Deep Archive | 180 days | Hours | Long-term compliance archive |
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this DOP-C02 question test?
Configuration Management and IaC — This question tests Configuration Management and IaC — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Run 'terraform force-unlock' with the lock ID — Option C is correct because Terraform uses DynamoDB to implement state locking, and after a failed apply, the lock entry remains in the table. The `terraform force-unlock` command with the specific lock ID (obtained from the error message or via `terraform lock` commands) is the designed mechanism to manually release a stuck lock without corrupting the state file. This approach preserves the existing state and avoids data loss.
What should I do if I get this DOP-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: Jul 4, 2026
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