KCNA Cloud Native Architecture Practice Question
According to the 12-factor app methodology, how should an application store configuration that varies between deployments (e.g., database connection strings)?
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
✓
In environment variables
The 12-factor app recommends strict separation of config from code, storing config in environment variables.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
In a configuration file that is version-controlled
Why it's wrong here
Version-controlled config files mix config with code, violating the principle.
- ✗
In a database table
Why it's wrong here
Storing config in a database adds complexity and latency.
- ✓
In environment variables
Why this is correct
Environment variables provide a clean separation and are easy to change per deployment.
- ✗
Hard-coded in the application code
Why it's wrong here
Hard-coding config violates the principle and makes changes difficult.
Go deeper
Related to this question
About these practice questions
This KCNA question is part of Courseiva's 833-question bank — original exam-style content with full explanations and wrong-answer analysis, never real exam questions or exam dumps. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This KCNA practice question is part of Courseiva's free CNCF 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 KCNA exam.