CCNA AI and Network Operations Practice Question
A developer is interacting with a REST API exposed by a network controller. Which two statements correctly describe common REST behavior?
⚠ Common exam trap
A common exam trap is assuming that POST always replaces an existing resource completely, which is incorrect. In REST API design, POST is typically used to create new resources or trigger server-side processing, whereas PUT is the method that fully replaces an existing resource. Confusing these two can lead to incorrect assumptions about how network controllers handle configuration changes or data updates. This misunderstanding may cause candidates to select POST as the answer for resource replacement questions, which is a frequent mistake in Cisco automation and programmability topics.
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
✓
GET is commonly used to retrieve resource data
REST APIs commonly use HTTP methods such as GET, POST, PUT, and DELETE, and JSON is one of the most common payload formats.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
GET is commonly used to retrieve resource data
Why this is correct
GET is an HTTP method defined as a safe, idempotent read operation in REST. It retrieves a representation of a resource identified by a URI, and should not alter server state. In network controller APIs, GET is used to fetch configuration, status, or telemetry data without side effects.
- ✗
POST always replaces an existing resource completely
Why it's wrong here
POST is an HTTP method used to submit an entity to a specified resource, often to create a new subordinate resource or trigger a process like a network-wide action. It is not defined as a full replacement operation; PUT is the method typically used to replace an existing resource entirely. Repeated POSTs may create multiple resources, so it is neither idempotent nor a guaranteed complete replacement.
When this WOULD be correct
If the question asked 'Which HTTP method is used to replace an existing resource completely?' then POST could be correct in some APIs that use POST for update operations, though PUT is more standard.
- ✓
JSON is a common data format used in REST APIs
Why this is correct
JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) is a lightweight, human-readable data-interchange format that maps directly to native objects in many programming languages. REST APIs frequently use JSON for request and response payloads because it is language-agnostic, easy to parse, and supports hierarchical structures needed for network device configurations and controller data.
- ✗
REST requires SNMP as the transport mechanism
Why it's wrong here
REST is an architectural style that relies on standard HTTP/HTTPS methods (GET, POST, PUT, DELETE) and does not mandate SNMP, which is a separate protocol for network management using UDP and a MIB tree. REST APIs are typically accessed via HTTP(S) with JSON/XML payloads, whereas SNMP uses binary ASN.1 encoding and a different request/response model. Therefore, claiming REST requires SNMP confuses two distinct network management approaches.
When this WOULD be correct
In a question asking about network management protocols, SNMP would be correct if the scenario involves monitoring or managing network devices using SNMP, such as polling interface statistics or receiving traps from routers.
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.
✓GET is commonly used to retrieve resource dataCorrect answer▾
Why this is correct
GET is an HTTP method defined as a safe, idempotent read operation in REST. It retrieves a representation of a resource identified by a URI, and should not alter server state. In network controller APIs, GET is used to fetch configuration, status, or telemetry data without side effects.
✗POST always replaces an existing resource completelyWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
POST is used to create a new resource or submit data, but it does not always replace an existing resource completely; PUT is the method typically used for full replacement.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
If the question asked 'Which HTTP method is used to replace an existing resource completely?' then POST could be correct in some APIs that use POST for update operations, though PUT is more standard.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse POST with PUT, thinking POST can fully replace a resource, or they may have experience with APIs that misuse POST for updates.
✗REST requires SNMP as the transport mechanismWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
REST does not require SNMP; it typically uses HTTP/HTTPS as the transport protocol. SNMP is a separate protocol for network management, not a transport mechanism for REST APIs.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
In a question asking about network management protocols, SNMP would be correct if the scenario involves monitoring or managing network devices using SNMP, such as polling interface statistics or receiving traps from routers.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse REST with network management protocols like SNMP, or think that REST APIs for network controllers must use SNMP because of the network context.
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
Agentic AI in Network Operations
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.
Key term
API
An API is a set of rules that allows software applications to communicate and exchange data with each other.
About these practice questions
One of 1,389 original 200-301 practice questions on Courseiva, each with a full explanation and wrong-answer analysis — not exam dumps or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Same concept, more angles
1 more way this is tested on 200-301
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. Which two statements correctly describe a RESTful API used by network controllers? Choose two.
medium- ✓ A.It commonly uses HTTP methods such as GET and POST
- B.It requires SNMP traps for every successful request
- ✓ C.It is typically stateless between client requests
- D.It can only return XML, never JSON
Why A: REST commonly uses HTTP methods such as GET, POST, PUT, PATCH, and DELETE. It is also stateless, which means each request includes the information needed for the server to process it.
JA
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.