AZ-400 Practice Question: Design and implement build and release pipelines
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.
You are configuring a multi-stage YAML pipeline that builds a .NET Core application and deploys it to Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS). The build stage produces a container image that is pushed to Azure Container Registry (ACR). The deploy stage needs to use the image from ACR. How should you pass the image tag from the build stage to the deploy stage?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Use the 'stageDependencies' syntax to retrieve the output variable of a job in the build stage.
The recommended way to pass variables between stages is to use 'stageDependencies' to access the output of a previous job. Option A is correct. Option B is wrong because pipeline variables defined at the top scope are not automatically available to subsequent stages unless explicitly output. Option C is wrong because build artifacts are for files, not variables. Option D is wrong because the ACR task does not automatically set a variable for the image tag.
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.
✗
Write the image tag to a file and publish it as a build artifact, then read it in the deploy stage.
Why it's wrong here
While possible, it is not the recommended approach; output variables are simpler.
✗
Define a pipeline variable at the top level and set it in the build stage.
Why it's wrong here
Pipeline variables are read-only during pipeline run; they cannot be set from a stage.
✓
Use the 'stageDependencies' syntax to retrieve the output variable of a job in the build stage.
Why this is correct
Output variables from one stage can be consumed in another using dependencies.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Use the 'Azure CLI' task in the deploy stage to query the ACR for the latest image tag.
Why it's wrong here
This is unreliable if multiple images are pushed; it may not get the correct tag.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
While possible, it is not the recommended approach; output variables are simpler.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
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.
Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
→Underline the problem statement mentally.
→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 company's IT admin needs to give a contractor read-only access to production logs without sharing account credentials. Using role-based access control (RBAC) and temporary scoped permissions — not a permanent shared password — is the correct pattern. Questions like this test whether you can apply least-privilege access across cloud identity services.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this AZ-400 question in full detail.
Identify which AZ-400 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
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: Use the 'stageDependencies' syntax to retrieve the output variable of a job in the build stage. — The recommended way to pass variables between stages is to use 'stageDependencies' to access the output of a previous job. Option A is correct. Option B is wrong because pipeline variables defined at the top scope are not automatically available to subsequent stages unless explicitly output. Option C is wrong because build artifacts are for files, not variables. Option D is wrong because the ACR task does not automatically set a variable for the image tag.
What should I do if I get this AZ-400 question wrong?
Identify which AZ-400 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
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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