200-901 Understanding and Using APIs Practice Question
A developer is testing a REST API using curl. The API returns a JSON response with a status code of 201. What does this status code indicate about the request?
⚠ Common exam trap
Many candidates confuse 201 Created with 200 OK or 202 Accepted, which have different implications for resource creation and processing.
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
✓
The request was successful and a new resource was created.
The 201 Created status code indicates that the request was successful and a new resource was created. It is commonly returned after a POST request to a collection endpoint. The response may include a Location header and a body with the new resource. Other status codes like 200, 202, and 204 have different meanings. Understanding these distinctions is essential for API testing and development.
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 request was successful and the response contains a representation of the modified resource.
Why it's wrong here
A 200 OK status is typically used for successful GET, PUT, or PATCH requests that return a representation of a resource. A 201 specifically indicates creation. While a 201 response may include the created resource, the primary meaning is creation, not modification of an existing resource. This option is more appropriate for 200 OK.
- ✓
The request was successful and a new resource was created.
Why this is correct
HTTP 201 Created indicates that the request has succeeded and has led to the creation of a new resource. The response typically includes a Location header with the URI of the new resource. This is the correct interpretation for a POST request that creates a resource. It is a success status code in the 2xx range.
- ✗
The request was accepted for processing but has not been completed.
Why it's wrong here
HTTP 202 Accepted indicates that the request has been accepted for processing but is not yet complete. It is often used for asynchronous operations. A 201 status means the resource was created immediately. Therefore, this option describes 202, not 201, and is incorrect for the scenario.
- ✗
The request was successful but the response body is empty.
Why it's wrong here
A 201 response can have a body, often containing the representation of the created resource. While some APIs return an empty body, the status code itself does not imply an empty body. The key meaning is resource creation. A 204 No Content status indicates an empty body. Therefore, this option is incorrect.
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JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official Cisco exam blueprint
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.