GCDL Practice Question: A developer wants to run her application code…
This GCDL practice question tests your understanding of a developer wants to run her application code…. 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 developer wants to run her application code without managing any servers, operating systems, or runtime environments. She wants to focus entirely on writing business logic. Which cloud service model best fits this requirement?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Good practice is not just finding the correct option. The wrong answers often show the exact trap the exam wants you to fall into.
Distractor review
Software as a Service (SaaS), where the developer uses a fully managed application built by the cloud provider
SaaS provides pre-built applications for end users, not a platform for developers to run their own custom business logic.
Distractor review
Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), where the developer provisions virtual machines and installs the runtime
IaaS requires the developer to manage VMs, operating systems, and runtimes — the opposite of what's described. The developer would not be free to focus on business logic alone.
Distractor review
Platform as a Service (PaaS), where the developer deploys code to a managed platform that handles the OS and runtime
PaaS is closer but still requires platform configuration and doesn't achieve the full 'no server management' ideal. The question describes an even more abstracted model.
Best answer
Serverless / Functions as a Service (FaaS), where the developer writes and deploys code functions and the provider manages all underlying infrastructure automatically
FaaS/serverless is the model where the developer's only concern is the business logic in the function. There are no servers to configure, no OS to patch, no capacity to plan. The runtime is automatically managed and scaled by the provider.
Common exam trap
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Technical deep dive
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
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.
- Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
- Underline the problem statement mentally.
- 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.
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More questions from this exam
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Question 1
A traditional retailer currently maintains its own data centers, purchasing servers every 3–5 years and paying for facilities, power, and staff regardless of demand. When it migrates its workloads to the public cloud, which change in cost model does it experience?
Question 2
An e-commerce company plans its infrastructure for peak shopping events (e.g., Black Friday) which drive 50× normal traffic. On-premises, they must maintain 50× capacity year-round. In the cloud, they provision 50× capacity only during peak periods. Which cloud characteristic enables this cost optimization?
Question 3
Which term describes the process by which organizations integrate digital technology into all areas of their business, fundamentally changing how they operate and deliver value to customers?
Question 4
When a company moves from maintaining its own data center to using Google Cloud, which operational responsibility does Google assume that the company previously managed?
Question 5
A hospital runs a patient records system that must remain on-premises due to strict regulatory data residency requirements. However, they also want to use cloud-based AI for diagnostic imaging analysis. Which cloud deployment model best describes their architecture?
Question 6
What is virtualization in the context of cloud computing, and why is it fundamental to how cloud providers deliver services?
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this GCDL question test?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Serverless / Functions as a Service (FaaS), where the developer writes and deploys code functions and the provider manages all underlying infrastructure automatically — Functions as a Service (FaaS) / serverless computing is the model where developers write pure business logic without any infrastructure or runtime management. The cloud provider handles all underlying infrastructure, automatically scaling from zero to millions of requests. PaaS requires some platform configuration; IaaS requires OS and runtime management; SaaS is pre-built applications, not developer-built code.
What should I do if I get this GCDL question wrong?
Identify which GCDL exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
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This GCDL 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 GCDL exam.