AZ-400 Design and implement source control Practice Question
This AZ-400 practice question tests your understanding of design and implement source control. 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 team uses a monorepo in Azure Repos. They want to implement a build validation policy that only triggers builds for code changes in specific folders to reduce build times. Which approach should they use?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Configure path filters in the pipeline trigger to include only the changed folder.
Option D is correct because Azure Pipelines supports path filters in the pipeline trigger configuration (using the `paths` keyword in YAML). This allows you to specify include and exclude patterns so that the pipeline only triggers when changes are made to specific folders within the monorepo. This directly reduces unnecessary builds and aligns with the requirement to limit builds to code changes in specific folders.
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.
✗
Use a manual trigger and have developers specify which folder to build.
Why it's wrong here
Manual triggers defeat automation and are error-prone.
✗
Create separate YAML pipelines for each folder and configure branch policies to require all pipelines.
Why it's wrong here
This increases complexity and maintenance.
✗
Configure the build policy in Azure Repos with a path filter to limit which folders trigger the policy.
Why it's wrong here
Path filters in build policies affect only the policy evaluation, not the build trigger.
✓
Configure path filters in the pipeline trigger to include only the changed folder.
Why this is correct
Path filters restrict when the pipeline runs based on changed paths.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates confuse branch policy path filters (which do not exist in Azure Repos) with pipeline trigger path filters, leading them to incorrectly select Option C.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Path filters in Azure Pipelines use the `paths` section under `trigger` in the YAML file, with `include` and `exclude` patterns that support wildcards (e.g., `src/app/*`). Under the hood, Azure Pipelines evaluates the list of changed files in the push against these patterns; if any changed file matches an included path and does not match an excluded path, the pipeline triggers. A subtle behavior is that if you only specify `exclude` without `include`, all paths are included by default, which can lead to unexpected triggers.
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.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this AZ-400 question in full detail.
Design and implement source control — This question tests Design and implement source control — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Configure path filters in the pipeline trigger to include only the changed folder. — Option D is correct because Azure Pipelines supports path filters in the pipeline trigger configuration (using the `paths` keyword in YAML). This allows you to specify include and exclude patterns so that the pipeline only triggers when changes are made to specific folders within the monorepo. This directly reduces unnecessary builds and aligns with the requirement to limit builds to code changes in specific folders.
What should I do if I get this AZ-400 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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Question Discussion
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