- A
Authorization
Authorization header carries credentials like Basic or Bearer tokens.
- B
Host
Why wrong: Host header specifies the target host.
- C
Content-Type
Why wrong: Content-Type indicates the media type of the body.
- D
Cookie
Why wrong: Cookie header sends stored cookies, not typically for API authentication.
Question 445 of 1,000
200-901 Network Fundamentals Practice Question
This 200-901 practice question tests your understanding of network fundamentals. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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 developer is creating a REST API client that needs to authenticate using credentials passed in the HTTP header. Which header should be used?
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
✓
Authorization
The Authorization header is the standard HTTP header used to transmit credentials (such as Basic, Bearer, or Digest tokens) to authenticate a REST API client. RFC 7235 defines this header as the mechanism for carrying authentication information from the client to the server, making it the correct choice for passing credentials in the HTTP header.
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.
- ✓
Authorization
Why this is correct
Authorization header carries credentials like Basic or Bearer tokens.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Host
Why it's wrong here
Host header specifies the target host.
- ✗
Content-Type
Why it's wrong here
Content-Type indicates the media type of the body.
- ✗
Cookie
Why it's wrong here
Cookie header sends stored cookies, not typically for API authentication.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse the Cookie header with the Authorization header because both can carry tokens, but Cisco tests the specific RFC-defined purpose of the Authorization header for direct credential transmission in REST APIs.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, the Authorization header value typically follows a scheme-specific format, such as 'Basic base64(username:password)' or 'Bearer JWT_token'. A subtle behavior is that the server may respond with a 401 Unauthorized status and a WWW-Authenticate header to challenge the client, prompting it to include the correct Authorization header. In real-world scenarios, using the Authorization header with Bearer tokens is common in OAuth 2.0 flows, where the token is obtained via a separate endpoint and then passed in subsequent API calls.
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 junior network technician can log in to a core router but cannot reach the enable prompt or configuration mode. The AAA server is authenticating the login — but the authorisation policy only grants privilege level 1, not 15. Authentication (who you are) is working; authorisation (what you can do) is not.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 200-901 question test?
Network Fundamentals — This question tests Network Fundamentals — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Authorization — The Authorization header is the standard HTTP header used to transmit credentials (such as Basic, Bearer, or Digest tokens) to authenticate a REST API client. RFC 7235 defines this header as the mechanism for carrying authentication information from the client to the server, making it the correct choice for passing credentials in the HTTP header.
What should I do if I get this 200-901 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
This 200-901 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 200-901 exam.
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