- A
Use gcloud beta run deploy with --source flag to build and deploy from source
This allows building and deploying directly from source code.
- B
Use Cloud Functions to package the container as a function
Why wrong: Cloud Functions handles code, not containers.
- C
Upload a Dockerfile to Cloud Run console and let it build
Why wrong: Cloud Run console does not build from Dockerfile; it expects a pre-built image.
- D
Use Kubernetes Engine to deploy the container and then migrate to Cloud Run
Why wrong: Migration is not a deployment method; it's a separate process.
- E
Build the container locally and push to Artifact Registry, then deploy with gcloud
This is the standard workflow: build, push to registry, then deploy.
Question 72 of 999
Cloud Run Deployment Options: Source-Based and Container Push
This PCD practice question tests your understanding of building and testing applications. 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 company wants to deploy a containerized application to Cloud Run. Which two approaches are supported? (Choose two.)
Quick Answer
The correct answer is building the container locally and pushing to Artifact Registry, then deploying with gcloud, alongside source-based deployment using the `--source` flag. These two approaches are supported because Cloud Run is designed to accept either a pre-built container image from a registry like Artifact Registry or to automatically build and deploy from your source code, handling the containerization process for you. On the Google Professional Cloud Developer exam, this question tests your understanding of the two primary workflows for getting an application onto Cloud Run, often appearing as a multiple-select item where distractors include unsupported methods like deploying directly from a Dockerfile without a registry or using a CI/CD pipeline that bypasses Artifact Registry. A common trap is assuming that any method involving a Dockerfile is valid, but Cloud Run requires either a built image in a registry or the `--source` flag to trigger a build. Remember the mnemonic "Push or Pull" — you either push a built image to a registry, or you let Cloud Run pull your source and build it.
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
✓
Use gcloud beta run deploy with --source flag to build and deploy from source
Option A is correct because the `gcloud beta run deploy --source` flag allows Cloud Run to automatically build a container image from your source code using Cloud Build, then deploy it. This is a fully managed workflow that eliminates the need to manually build and push a container. Option E is correct because you can build a container locally, push it to Artifact Registry, and then deploy it to Cloud Run using `gcloud run deploy` with the `--image` flag, which is the standard deployment path for pre-built images.
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.
- ✓
Use gcloud beta run deploy with --source flag to build and deploy from source
Why this is correct
This allows building and deploying directly from source code.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Use Cloud Functions to package the container as a function
Why it's wrong here
Cloud Functions handles code, not containers.
- ✗
Upload a Dockerfile to Cloud Run console and let it build
Why it's wrong here
Cloud Run console does not build from Dockerfile; it expects a pre-built image.
- ✗
Use Kubernetes Engine to deploy the container and then migrate to Cloud Run
Why it's wrong here
Migration is not a deployment method; it's a separate process.
- ✓
Build the container locally and push to Artifact Registry, then deploy with gcloud
Why this is correct
This is the standard workflow: build, push to registry, then deploy.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
A common misconception tested on this exam is that Cloud Run can build directly from a Dockerfile uploaded via the console, but in reality, Cloud Run requires a pre-built image or uses Cloud Build triggered by the CLI or source repositories.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, `gcloud beta run deploy --source` triggers Cloud Build to detect the language, create a Dockerfile if needed, build the image, and push it to Artifact Registry before deploying to Cloud Run. The `gcloud run deploy --image` command references a container image in Artifact Registry or Container Registry, which Cloud Run pulls and runs in a fully managed Knative-serving environment. A real-world scenario is a CI/CD pipeline where developers commit code, Cloud Build builds the container, and Cloud Run deploys it automatically, avoiding manual image management.
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 cloud solutions architect for a retail company is evaluating services for a new workload. The correct answer here reflects best practice for the specific scenario described — not a general cloud recommendation. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Cloud exam questions reward reading the constraint carefully: the same technology can be right or wrong depending on the use case.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this PCD question test?
Building and testing applications — This question tests Building and testing applications — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Use gcloud beta run deploy with --source flag to build and deploy from source — Option A is correct because the `gcloud beta run deploy --source` flag allows Cloud Run to automatically build a container image from your source code using Cloud Build, then deploy it. This is a fully managed workflow that eliminates the need to manually build and push a container. Option E is correct because you can build a container locally, push it to Artifact Registry, and then deploy it to Cloud Run using `gcloud run deploy` with the `--image` flag, which is the standard deployment path for pre-built images.
What should I do if I get this PCD 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 PCD practice question is part of Courseiva's free Google Cloud 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 PCD exam.
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