FC0-U71 Software Development Concepts Practice Question
A mobile app developer wants to integrate weather data into an app. The developer uses an HTTP request to a web service that returns JSON data. The web service requires an API key in the request header for authentication. What is this web service an example of?
⚠ Common exam trap
CompTIA often tests the distinction between REST and SOAP by focusing on data format (JSON vs. XML) and authentication simplicity (API keys vs. WS-Security), leading candidates to confuse REST with GraphQL due to both using JSON, but GraphQL is a query language, not a service architecture.
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
✓
REST API
This web service is a REST API because it uses HTTP requests to access and manipulate resources, returns data in JSON format, and requires an API key in the request header for authentication. REST APIs are stateless and rely on standard HTTP methods (GET, POST, etc.), making them ideal for integrating external data like weather information into mobile apps.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
GraphQL API
Why it's wrong here
GraphQL exposes a single endpoint where clients specify query fields, rather than a fixed REST-style resource returning JSON for a simple HTTP GET. It is tempting because it also returns JSON, and it would be correct when the client needs to request precisely selected fields across related datasets.
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WebSocket
Why it's wrong here
WebSocket provides a persistent, full-duplex connection after an HTTP upgrade handshake, not the request-response JSON retrieval described, and it has no API-key header authentication model. It is tempting because it also runs over HTTP, and it would be correct for live streaming updates such as real-time weather push notifications.
- ✓
REST API
Why this is correct
The service exposes HTTP endpoints returning JSON and authenticates via an API key header, which is characteristic of a REST API. This satisfies the stem's description of stateless HTTP requests with header-based authentication, distinguishing it from SOAP or GraphQL services.
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SOAP API
Why it's wrong here
SOAP exchanges XML envelopes over HTTP with a WSDL contract, so it does not return JSON payloads as described. It is tempting because it is also a web service accessed over HTTP, and it would be correct for enterprise systems requiring WS-Security and formal schema-defined messaging.
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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.