FC0-U71 Software Development Concepts Practice Question
A developer is creating a cloud-based application that needs to authenticate third-party services before allowing access to its API. The developer decides to use a method where each third-party service receives a unique key that must be included in each API request. This method is known as:
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
✓
API key authentication
API key authentication is a common method where a unique key is passed with each request to identify and authenticate the caller.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Session-based authentication
Why it's wrong here
Session-based auth uses cookies, not a key in each request.
- ✓
API key authentication
Why this is correct
API keys are unique identifiers included in requests for authentication.
- ✗
Basic authentication
Why it's wrong here
Basic auth uses a username and password, not a key.
- ✗
OAuth
Why it's wrong here
OAuth is an authorization protocol that uses tokens, not just a key.
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Same concept, more angles
1 more way this is tested on FC0-U71
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. A web developer is creating a weather application that retrieves data from a third-party service. The service requires an identifier to track usage and authenticate requests. The developer includes this identifier in the HTTP header of each request. What is this identifier called?
hard- A.JWT
- B.Session ID
- ✓ C.API key
- D.OAuth token
Why C: An API key is a unique identifier used to authenticate and authorize API requests, often passed in headers.
JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This FC0-U71 practice question is part of Courseiva's free CompTIA 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 FC0-U71 exam.