Quick Answer
The answer is Azure Application Gateway, the correct choice because it operates at Layer 7 of the OSI model, enabling intelligent traffic distribution based on HTTP request attributes like URL path. Unlike a basic Layer 4 load balancer that only sees IP and port, Application Gateway can inspect the full HTTP request, allowing you to route /images traffic to one backend pool and /api traffic to another, precisely matching the requirement for URL path routing. On the AZ-104 exam, this question tests your understanding of when to choose Application Gateway over Azure Load Balancer or Traffic Manager; a common trap is selecting Azure Load Balancer, which cannot perform content-based routing. Remember the key distinction: if the scenario mentions HTTP headers, URL paths, or SSL termination, think Layer 7 and Application Gateway. A helpful memory tip is "App Gateway for App Paths"—if the traffic decision depends on the application layer details, you need the gateway that speaks HTTP.
This AZ-104 practice question tests your understanding of implement and manage virtual networking. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. 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.
You need to expose a web application running on several VMs and distribute traffic across them based on HTTP request attributes such as URL path. Which service should you use?
Azure Load Balancer
Why wrong: Load Balancer is primarily Layer 4 and does not do URL path routing.
Azure Application Gateway
Application Gateway supports Layer 7 features including path-based routing.
Traffic Manager
Why wrong: Traffic Manager is DNS-based and does not inspect HTTP paths.
Network Watcher
Why wrong: Network Watcher is for diagnostics and monitoring, not application load balancing.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Azure Application Gateway
Azure Application Gateway is a Layer 7 load balancer that can route traffic based on HTTP request attributes such as URL path, host headers, or query strings. This allows you to distribute incoming web traffic across multiple VMs based on the specific URL path (e.g., /images to one backend pool, /api to another), which is exactly what the question requires.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Azure Load Balancer
Why it's wrong here
Load Balancer is primarily Layer 4 and does not do URL path routing.
Azure Application Gateway
Why this is correct
Application Gateway supports Layer 7 features including path-based routing.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Traffic Manager
Network Watcher
Why it's wrong here
Network Watcher is for diagnostics and monitoring, not application load balancing.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates often confuse Azure Load Balancer (Layer 4) with Application Gateway (Layer 7), assuming any load balancer can route based on HTTP attributes, but only Application Gateway can inspect and route based on URL paths, host headers, or query strings.
Detailed technical explanation
Azure Application Gateway uses a set of routing rules defined in its HTTP settings and listeners to match URL paths and route requests to appropriate backend pools. It supports features like URL-based routing, multi-site hosting, and Web Application Firewall (WAF) integration. Under the hood, it terminates the client SSL connection, inspects the HTTP request, and forwards the request to the backend based on the path map, which is a key differentiator from Layer 4 load balancers.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
An e-commerce site experiences heavy traffic on Black Friday and near-zero traffic during off-peak weeks. Rather than provisioning permanent large VMs, the team uses auto-scaling groups that add capacity automatically under load and reduce it overnight. Questions like this test whether you understand elasticity, availability zones, and cloud compute scaling patterns.
What to study next
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
Implement and Manage Virtual Networking — This question tests Implement and Manage Virtual Networking — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Azure Application Gateway — Azure Application Gateway is a Layer 7 load balancer that can route traffic based on HTTP request attributes such as URL path, host headers, or query strings. This allows you to distribute incoming web traffic across multiple VMs based on the specific URL path (e.g., /images to one backend pool, /api to another), which is exactly what the question requires.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
This AZ-104 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Microsoft 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 AZ-104 exam.
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