- A
Configure a Cloud Build trigger to run on push events to the main branch.
Cloud Build triggers on push events enable automatic builds and tests.
- B
Add a cloudbuild.yaml file to the repository that defines build steps and tests.
A cloudbuild.yaml file specifies the build and test steps executed by Cloud Build.
- C
Enable Cloud Run for Anthos to automatically deploy after build.
Why wrong: Cloud Run for Anthos is for deployment, not for building and testing.
- D
Use Cloud Scheduler to trigger a Cloud Build trigger every 5 minutes.
Why wrong: Cloud Scheduler triggers on a schedule, not on code push; not event-driven.
- E
Create a Cloud Source Repository and use Cloud Functions to build on push.
Why wrong: Cloud Functions is not designed for building and testing; Cloud Build is the appropriate service.
Quick Answer
The answer is to add a cloudbuild.yaml file to the repository that defines build steps and tests, and to configure a Cloud Build trigger for push events on the main branch. This is correct because Cloud Build triggers listen for repository events like a push to a specific branch, and when that event occurs, they automatically execute the build instructions defined in the cloudbuild.yaml file. On the Google Professional Cloud Developer exam, this scenario tests your understanding of event-driven CI/CD pipelines, specifically how to link a Git push event to an automated build without manual intervention. A common trap is confusing Cloud Build triggers with Cloud Functions or Pub/Sub; remember that Cloud Build triggers are purpose-built for repository events, not arbitrary messages. For the exam, think of the trigger as the "listener" and the cloudbuild.yaml as the "recipe"—both are required to automate builds from a push event. Memory tip: "Push the YAML, trigger the build."
PCD Building and testing applications Practice Question
This PCD practice question tests your understanding of building and testing applications. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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 development team is building a containerized application on Google Cloud. They want to implement a CI/CD pipeline that automatically builds and tests their application on every push to the main branch. Which TWO actions should they take to achieve this?
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
Configure a Cloud Build trigger to run on push events to the main branch.
Option A is correct because Cloud Build triggers can be configured to automatically start a build whenever a push event occurs on a specific branch, such as main. This is the standard way to initiate a CI/CD pipeline in response to code changes in Google Cloud.
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.
- ✓
Configure a Cloud Build trigger to run on push events to the main branch.
Why this is correct
Cloud Build triggers on push events enable automatic builds and tests.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
Add a cloudbuild.yaml file to the repository that defines build steps and tests.
Why this is correct
A cloudbuild.yaml file specifies the build and test steps executed by Cloud Build.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Enable Cloud Run for Anthos to automatically deploy after build.
Why it's wrong here
Cloud Run for Anthos is for deployment, not for building and testing.
- ✗
Use Cloud Scheduler to trigger a Cloud Build trigger every 5 minutes.
Why it's wrong here
Cloud Scheduler triggers on a schedule, not on code push; not event-driven.
- ✗
Create a Cloud Source Repository and use Cloud Functions to build on push.
Why it's wrong here
Cloud Functions is not designed for building and testing; Cloud Build is the appropriate service.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may confuse deployment targets (like Cloud Run) or time-based schedulers (like Cloud Scheduler) with event-driven CI/CD triggers, missing that only a push-based trigger combined with a build configuration file directly achieves the requirement.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Cloud Build triggers use a webhook or polling mechanism to detect push events in a repository (e.g., GitHub, Cloud Source Repositories). The cloudbuild.yaml file defines the build steps, including tests, and can be stored in the repository itself, allowing the pipeline to be version-controlled and reproducible. A subtle behavior is that if the cloudbuild.yaml is missing or invalid, the trigger will fail, so it must be present in the branch being pushed.
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.
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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: Configure a Cloud Build trigger to run on push events to the main branch. — Option A is correct because Cloud Build triggers can be configured to automatically start a build whenever a push event occurs on a specific branch, such as main. This is the standard way to initiate a CI/CD pipeline in response to code changes in Google Cloud.
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: Jun 25, 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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