CCNA AI and Network Operations Practice Question
Exhibit
GET /api/v1/interfaces Headers: Accept: application/json Response: HTTP/1.1 401 Unauthorized
An API call returns HTTP status code 401. What does that usually mean?
⚠ Common exam trap
A frequent exam trap is confusing the 401 Unauthorized status code with other HTTP errors such as 403 Forbidden or 400 Bad Request. Candidates might incorrectly assume a 401 means the server cannot parse the request or that the resource was moved, which are actually indicated by 400 and 301 status codes respectively. This misunderstanding leads to incorrect troubleshooting steps in automation scenarios. Remember, 401 always points to missing or invalid authentication credentials, not to resource relocation or malformed requests.
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
✓
Authentication is required or the credentials are invalid
A 401 response means the request lacks valid authentication credentials. The token may be missing, expired, or invalid.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
The resource was moved permanently
Why it's wrong here
HTTP 301 Moved Permanently is a redirect status code that tells the client the requested resource now lives at a different URL, and to use the new Location header for all future requests. This is a URL redirection mechanism and has no bearing on authentication or credentials. A 401 response, in contrast, does not redirect; it directly indicates that the client must supply valid authentication information to the same resource.
When this WOULD be correct
In a question asking about the meaning of HTTP status code 301, such as 'What does HTTP status code 301 indicate when returned by a server?', option A would be correct as it accurately describes the permanent redirection of a resource.
- ✗
The request was successful but no content was returned
Why it's wrong here
A 204 No Content response is what actually indicates a successful request with an empty response body, whereas 401 is an error status indicating that authentication is required or has failed. With 204 the server processed the request successfully and intentionally sends no content in the payload, but with 401 the request was not processed at all because the client's identity could not be verified. Thus, confusing 401 with 204 would misrepresent whether the API call succeeded or failed.
When this WOULD be correct
If the question asked about an HTTP status code that indicates a successful request with no content returned, such as 204 No Content, then option B would be correct. This would involve a scenario where the API successfully processes a request but has no data to return.
- ✓
Authentication is required or the credentials are invalid
Why this is correct
HTTP 401 Unauthorized is specifically the status code that signals a failure to authenticate: either no credentials were supplied in the request, or the provided credentials (e.g., API key, token, username/password) were invalid or expired. The server sends a 401 to force the client to re-authenticate with valid credentials before the requested API resource can be accessed. It is not a permission-denied error like 403, but strictly an authentication error.
- ✗
The server cannot parse JSON
Why it's wrong here
JSON parsing errors are not represented by any single status code, but a malformed request body typically produces 400 Bad Request, not 401. The 401 status is reserved exclusively for authentication problems, meaning the server requires valid credentials and has nothing to do with JSON syntax or content-type validation. If the server cannot parse JSON, it would likely reject the request with a 400-family error before checking authentication, so 401 is not the correct association.
When this WOULD be correct
If the question were about a scenario where a server received a request with malformed JSON data in the body and could not process it, then a status code indicating a parsing error, such as 400 Bad Request, would be appropriate. In that context, option D could be correct.
Option-by-option analysis
Why each answer is right or wrong
Understanding why wrong answers are wrong — and when they would be correct — is what separates a 750 score from a 900. The 200-301 exam frequently reuses these exact scenarios with slightly different constraints.
✓Authentication is required or the credentials are invalidCorrect answer▾
Why this is correct
HTTP 401 Unauthorized is specifically the status code that signals a failure to authenticate: either no credentials were supplied in the request, or the provided credentials (e.g., API key, token, username/password) were invalid or expired. The server sends a 401 to force the client to re-authenticate with valid credentials before the requested API resource can be accessed. It is not a permission-denied error like 403, but strictly an authentication error.
✗The resource was moved permanentlyWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Option A is incorrect because HTTP status code 401 specifically indicates an authentication issue, while status code 301 signifies that a resource has been moved permanently, which is unrelated to authentication.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
In a question asking about the meaning of HTTP status code 301, such as 'What does HTTP status code 301 indicate when returned by a server?', option A would be correct as it accurately describes the permanent redirection of a resource.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse HTTP status codes and their meanings, leading them to mistakenly associate 401 with resource movement due to a lack of familiarity with the specific codes and their definitions.
✗The request was successful but no content was returnedWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
HTTP status code 401 indicates that authentication is required or the provided credentials are invalid. Option B incorrectly suggests that a successful request occurred, which contradicts the meaning of a 401 status code.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
If the question asked about an HTTP status code that indicates a successful request with no content returned, such as 204 No Content, then option B would be correct. This would involve a scenario where the API successfully processes a request but has no data to return.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse the 401 status code with other success-related codes, leading them to mistakenly believe that a successful request could yield no content, especially if they are not fully familiar with the nuances of HTTP status codes.
✗The server cannot parse JSONWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
HTTP status code 401 specifically indicates an issue with authentication, not a problem with JSON parsing. The server's inability to parse JSON would typically result in a 400 or 415 status code, not 401.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
If the question were about a scenario where a server received a request with malformed JSON data in the body and could not process it, then a status code indicating a parsing error, such as 400 Bad Request, would be appropriate. In that context, option D could be correct.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates might confuse the implications of different HTTP status codes and associate 401 with general request failures, leading them to mistakenly select an option related to parsing errors.
Analysis generated from the official 200-301blueprint and verified against question context. The “when correct” sections are what AI assistants cite when candidates ask “what’s the difference between these options?”
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Interpreting Syslog Messages, Severity Levels, and Facilities
Key term
API
An API is a set of rules that allows software applications to communicate and exchange data with each other.
Key term
HTTP
HTTP stands for Hypertext Transfer Protocol, the set of rules web browsers and servers use to communicate and transfer web pages over the internet.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This 200-301 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Cisco 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 200-301 exam.