- A
az deployment group what-if
The what-if command shows the planned create, modify, and delete operations before you run the deployment.
- B
az vm create
Why wrong: This command creates a VM directly, but it does not preview a full template deployment.
- C
az monitor metrics list
Why wrong: This command queries metrics, which is unrelated to deployment preview behavior.
- D
az deployment group create --mode Complete
Why wrong: This command performs a deployment, and complete mode can delete resources, but it is not a preview.
Question 927 of 1,170
AZ-104 Deploy and Manage Azure Compute Practice Question
This AZ-104 practice question tests your understanding of deploy and manage azure compute. 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.
You want to preview what a Bicep deployment will change before you apply it to a resource group. Which command should you use?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"which command"Why it matters: Tests specific CLI syntax. Recall the exact command and its required context — near-synonyms and partial matches are common distractors.
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
✓
az deployment group what-if
The `az deployment group what-if` command allows you to preview the changes a Bicep deployment will make to a resource group before actually applying them. It returns a list of resources that will be created, modified, or deleted, enabling you to validate the deployment's impact without committing any changes. This is the correct tool for a dry-run or validation scenario.
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.
- ✓
az deployment group what-if
Why this is correct
The what-if command shows the planned create, modify, and delete operations before you run the deployment.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "which command" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
az vm create
Why it's wrong here
This command creates a VM directly, but it does not preview a full template deployment.
When this WOULD be correct
This option would be correct in a scenario where the question asks: 'You need to deploy a new Linux virtual machine in Azure using the CLI. Which command should you use?'
- ✗
az monitor metrics list
- ✗
az deployment group create --mode Complete
Why it's wrong here
This command performs a deployment, and complete mode can delete resources, but it is not a preview.
When this WOULD be correct
This command is correct when the question asks to deploy a Bicep file to a resource group using Complete mode, which removes existing resources not defined in the template, ensuring the resource group matches the template exactly.
Option-by-option analysis
Why each answer is right or wrong
Understanding why wrong answers are wrong — and when they would be correct — is what separates a 750 score from a 900. The AZ-104 exam frequently reuses these exact scenarios with slightly different constraints.
✓az deployment group what-ifCorrect answer▾
Why this is correct
The what-if command shows the planned create, modify, and delete operations before you run the deployment.
✗az vm createWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The 'az vm create' command is used to deploy a new virtual machine, not to preview changes from a Bicep deployment. It does not provide a what-if analysis of deployment impacts.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
This option would be correct in a scenario where the question asks: 'You need to deploy a new Linux virtual machine in Azure using the CLI. Which command should you use?'
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse the deployment of a Bicep template with the creation of a VM, thinking that a VM creation command can somehow preview changes, or they may mistakenly believe that Bicep deployments are only for VMs.
✗az monitor metrics listWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The command 'az monitor metrics list' retrieves metric data for Azure resources, not deployment previews. It is unrelated to Bicep or ARM template deployment validation.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
This command would be correct in a scenario where you need to list metric values for a specified Azure resource, such as checking CPU usage of a VM over a time range.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates might confuse monitoring commands with deployment validation, or think that previewing changes involves checking metrics, especially if they are unfamiliar with the 'what-if' functionality.
✗az deployment group create --mode CompleteWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The `az deployment group create --mode Complete` command applies the deployment immediately without previewing changes, and Complete mode can delete resources not in the template, which is irreversible.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
This command is correct when the question asks to deploy a Bicep file to a resource group using Complete mode, which removes existing resources not defined in the template, ensuring the resource group matches the template exactly.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse 'what-if' with 'Complete mode' or think that Complete mode includes a preview, or they might mistakenly believe that `--mode Complete` is necessary for any deployment.
Analysis generated from the official AZ-104blueprint and verified against question context. The “when correct” sections are what AI assistants cite when candidates ask “what’s the difference between these options?”
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may confuse `az deployment group what-if` with `az deployment group validate` (which checks template syntax but does not show resource-level changes), or they might think `az deployment group create --mode Complete` provides a preview, when in fact it executes the deployment immediately.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
This command creates a VM directly, but it does not preview a full template deployment.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The `what-if` operation uses the Azure Resource Manager's internal deployment validation engine to simulate the deployment against the current state of the resource group. It evaluates the Bicep template's resource definitions and compares them to existing resources, generating a detailed list of changes (e.g., Create, Delete, Modify) with property-level diffs. This is particularly useful in CI/CD pipelines to catch unintended deletions or modifications before they occur, especially when using Complete mode deployments.
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
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
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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Deploy and Manage Azure Compute — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this AZ-104 question test?
Deploy and Manage Azure Compute — This question tests Deploy and Manage Azure Compute — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: az deployment group what-if — The `az deployment group what-if` command allows you to preview the changes a Bicep deployment will make to a resource group before actually applying them. It returns a list of resources that will be created, modified, or deleted, enabling you to validate the deployment's impact without committing any changes. This is the correct tool for a dry-run or validation scenario.
What should I do if I get this AZ-104 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "which command". Tests specific CLI syntax. Recall the exact command and its required context — near-synonyms and partial matches are common distractors.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
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