The answer is the TimerTrigger, as it is specifically designed for scheduled execution of background tasks at fixed intervals, making it the correct choice for running a cleanup every 10 minutes. This trigger uses a cron expression to define the schedule—for example, "0 */10 * * * *" for every ten minutes—and integrates seamlessly with the Consumption Plan, which scales to zero when idle to minimize cost. On the Microsoft Azure Developer Associate AZ-204 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of choosing the right trigger for cost-effective, periodic workloads, often contrasting TimerTrigger with QueueTrigger or HTTPTrigger, which are not designed for time-based execution. A common trap is selecting a QueueTrigger for cleanup, but that requires an external message source, adding complexity and cost. Remember the memory tip: "Timer for time, Queue for queue"—if the task runs on a schedule, always reach for the TimerTrigger.
AZ-204 Develop Azure compute solutions Practice Question
This AZ-204 practice question tests your understanding of develop azure compute solutions. 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 are developing a solution that needs to run a background task every 10 minutes to clean up temporary files in Azure Blob Storage. You want to use Azure Functions with the Consumption Plan to minimize cost. Which trigger type should you use?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "minimum / minimize"
Why it matters: Asks for the least resource use — fewest addresses, smallest subnet, lowest overhead. Eliminate over-provisioned options even if they would technically work.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
TimerTrigger
B is correct because TimerTrigger is designed for scheduled execution of background tasks at fixed intervals, such as every 10 minutes. It uses a cron expression to define the schedule and runs on the Consumption Plan, which scales to zero when idle, minimizing cost. This makes it the ideal choice for periodic cleanup of temporary files in Azure Blob Storage.
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.
✗
HTTPTrigger
Why it's wrong here
HTTPTrigger is used to respond to HTTP requests, not for scheduled execution.
✓
TimerTrigger
Why this is correct
TimerTrigger is specifically designed for running functions on a schedule using a CRON expression. It is ideal for periodic tasks every 10 minutes.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "minimum / minimize" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
BlobTrigger
Why it's wrong here
BlobTrigger runs when a blob is created or modified, not on a schedule.
✗
ServiceBusTrigger
Why it's wrong here
ServiceBusTrigger runs when a message arrives in a queue or topic, not on a schedule.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may confuse BlobTrigger (event-driven on blob changes) with a scheduled cleanup task, not realizing that TimerTrigger is the only trigger that natively supports recurring time-based execution without external dependencies.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, TimerTrigger uses a singleton pattern via Azure Storage blobs (leases) to ensure only one instance runs the function at a time, even across multiple scaled-out instances. The cron expression (e.g., '0 */10 * * * *') is evaluated by the Azure Functions runtime using NCrontab, and the trigger relies on the AzureWebJobsStorage connection string for coordination. In a real-world scenario, if the function runs longer than the 10-minute interval, the next scheduled execution will be skipped until the current one completes, preventing overlap.
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 startup's cloud architect reviews their monthly bill and notices costs are higher than expected for a long-running batch job. Switching from on-demand instances to Reserved Instances — or using Spot/Preemptible VMs — can reduce compute costs by up to 72 %. Questions like this test whether you understand the tradeoffs between commitment, flexibility, and cost across cloud pricing models.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this AZ-204 question in full detail.
Develop Azure compute solutions — This question tests Develop Azure compute solutions — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: TimerTrigger — B is correct because TimerTrigger is designed for scheduled execution of background tasks at fixed intervals, such as every 10 minutes. It uses a cron expression to define the schedule and runs on the Consumption Plan, which scales to zero when idle, minimizing cost. This makes it the ideal choice for periodic cleanup of temporary files in Azure Blob Storage.
What should I do if I get this AZ-204 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: "minimum / minimize". Asks for the least resource use — fewest addresses, smallest subnet, lowest overhead. Eliminate over-provisioned options even if they would technically work.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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