Quick Answer

The correct sequence for a REST API request sequence that retrieves network device information with authentication and JSON output is: identify the endpoint and GET method, provide authentication credentials, set the Accept header to application/json, send the request, verify the status code, then parse the response body. This order follows the standard client workflow because each step builds logically on the previous one—you cannot authenticate without knowing the endpoint, you cannot set headers before preparing the request, and you must confirm a successful status code (like 200 OK) before trusting the response data to parse. On the CCNA 200-301 v2 exam, this drag-and-drop task tests your understanding of RESTful API consumption in network automation, a key topic under Automation and Programmability. A common trap is placing “parse the response body” before “verify the status code,” which would attempt to extract data from a failed or error response. Remember the mnemonic “I Send, Then Verify, Then Parse”—or simply think of it as “Prepare, Authenticate, Format, Send, Check, Extract.”