Question 1hardmultiple choice
Full question →hardmultiple choiceObjective-mapped
A global e-commerce platform uses a distributed database for its shopping cart service. The platform must be highly available and continue to accept writes even if network partitions occur between data centers. The business accepts that during a partition, users might see slightly outdated inventory counts, but the service must remain operational. According to the CAP theorem, which two properties is this system prioritizing?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Good practice is not just finding the correct option. The wrong answers often show the exact trap the exam wants you to fall into.
A
Distractor review
Consistency and Partition Tolerance
This would mean the system sacrifices Availability during a partition, which contradicts the requirement that the service must remain highly available and accept writes.
B
Best answer
Availability and Partition Tolerance
The system is designed to remain available (accept writes) even during network partitions, sacrificing immediate consistency (stale data is acceptable). This is a classic 'AP' system under the CAP theorem.
C
Distractor review
Consistency and Availability
If a system prioritizes both Consistency and Availability, it cannot tolerate network partitions. Since partitions are inevitable, this combination is not achievable in practice.
D
Distractor review
Durability and Partition Tolerance
Durability is not one of the three properties in the CAP theorem. The CAP theorem addresses Consistency, Availability, and Partition Tolerance.
Common exam trap
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.
Technical deep dive
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.
Related practice questions
Related DP-900 practice-question pages
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
More questions from this exam
Keep practising from the same exam bank, or move into a focused topic page if this question exposed a weak area.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this DP-900 question test?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Availability and Partition Tolerance — The CAP theorem states that in a distributed system, you can only guarantee two of three properties: Consistency (all nodes see the same data at the same time), Availability (every request receives a response, even if some nodes are down), and Partition Tolerance (the system continues to operate despite network partitions). Since network partitions are inevitable in distributed systems, Partition Tolerance is usually a must. Between Consistency and Availability, this scenario prioritizes Availability (the service must always accept writes) over Consistency (stale data is acceptable). Therefore, the system is prioritizing Availability and Partition Tolerance.
What should I do if I get this DP-900 question wrong?
Then try more questions from the same exam bank and focus on understanding why the wrong options are tempting.
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