Question 43 of 928

Design and implement build and release pipelines →mediumMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped

Troubleshooting Node.js Native Module Errors from Version Mismatch

This AZ-400 practice question tests your understanding of design and implement build and release pipelines. 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.

Your team uses GitHub Actions to build and deploy a Node.js application to Azure App Service. The deployment succeeds, but the app crashes after startup with an error indicating a missing module. The build artifact includes the node_modules folder. What is the most likely cause?

Clue words in this question

Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.

Clue: "most likely"
Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.

A
The .gitignore file excludes node_modules from the artifact.
Why wrong: The artifact includes node_modules per the description.
B
The Node.js version on the runner differs from the App Service runtime, causing native module incompatibility.
Native modules compiled for a different Node.js version can fail.
C
The workflow YAML has an indentation error that causes the deploy step to fail silently.
Why wrong: A deployment failure would produce an error, not a missing module crash.
D
The build step does not run npm ci, so the package-lock.json is ignored.
Why wrong: npm install without lock file could still include dependencies.

Full breakdown with real-world context →

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

✓

The Node.js version on the runner differs from the App Service runtime, causing native module incompatibility.

The most likely cause is that the Node.js version on the GitHub Actions runner differs from the version on Azure App Service, leading to native module incompatibility. Native modules (e.g., those using node-gyp) are compiled against the specific Node.js ABI (Application Binary Interface) of the build environment. If the runtime version differs, the compiled .node binaries will fail to load, resulting in a 'missing module' error even though the node_modules folder is present in the artifact.

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.

✗
The .gitignore file excludes node_modules from the artifact.
Why it's wrong here
The artifact includes node_modules per the description.
✓
The Node.js version on the runner differs from the App Service runtime, causing native module incompatibility.
Why this is correct
Native modules compiled for a different Node.js version can fail.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
The workflow YAML has an indentation error that causes the deploy step to fail silently.
Why it's wrong here
A deployment failure would produce an error, not a missing module crash.
✗
The build step does not run npm ci, so the package-lock.json is ignored.
Why it's wrong here
npm install without lock file could still include dependencies.

Common exam traps

Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword

The trap here is that candidates assume a missing module error always means the file wasn't included in the artifact, but in this scenario the node_modules folder is present, so the real issue is ABI incompatibility between the build and runtime Node.js versions.

Detailed technical explanation

How to think about this question

Node.js native modules are compiled against the N-API or ABI version of the Node.js binary used during build. When the runtime Node.js version has a different ABI (e.g., v16 vs v18), the precompiled .node files cannot be loaded, causing a MODULE_NOT_FOUND error even though the file exists. This is a common issue when using platform-specific dependencies like sharp, bcrypt, or sqlite3. The fix is to ensure the build and runtime Node.js versions match, or to rebuild native modules on the target environment using npm rebuild.

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.

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

Questions learners often ask

What does this AZ-400 question test?

Design and implement build and release pipelines — This question tests Design and implement build and release pipelines — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..

What is the correct answer to this question?

The correct answer is: The Node.js version on the runner differs from the App Service runtime, causing native module incompatibility. — The most likely cause is that the Node.js version on the GitHub Actions runner differs from the version on Azure App Service, leading to native module incompatibility. Native modules (e.g., those using node-gyp) are compiled against the specific Node.js ABI (Application Binary Interface) of the build environment. If the runtime version differs, the compiled .node binaries will fail to load, resulting in a 'missing module' error even though the node_modules folder is present in the artifact.

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.

Are there clue words in this question I should notice?

Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.

What is the key concept behind this question?

Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.

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