- A
vars defined in the playbook have higher precedence than those in roles/vars/main.yml
Why wrong: Incorrect: play vars have lower precedence than role vars.
- B
vars defined in group_vars override both play and role vars
Why wrong: Incorrect: group vars have lower precedence than role vars.
- C
the playbook must use include_vars after the role to override
Why wrong: Incorrect: this is a workaround, not the explanation of the issue.
- D
vars defined in roles/vars/main.yml have higher precedence than those in the playbook's vars section
Correct: role vars override play vars.
Question 207 of 528
Ansible Role Vars Override Playbook Vars — Variable Precedence | Red Hat Certified Engineer Explained
This EX294 practice question tests your understanding of implement advanced ansible automation. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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 developer reports that a role's behavior is not as expected. They set a variable in the playbook's vars section, but the role still uses the value from its vars/main.yml. Which of the following explains this issue?
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
✓
vars defined in roles/vars/main.yml have higher precedence than those in the playbook's vars section
In Ansible, variable precedence is hierarchical, and role defaults (roles/role_name/defaults/main.yml) have the lowest precedence, while role vars (roles/role_name/vars/main.yml) have a higher precedence than playbook-level vars. Since the developer set the variable in the playbook's vars section, but the role still uses the value from its vars/main.yml, this indicates that vars defined in roles/vars/main.yml override those in the playbook's vars section, making option D correct.
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.
- ✗
vars defined in the playbook have higher precedence than those in roles/vars/main.yml
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect: play vars have lower precedence than role vars.
- ✗
vars defined in group_vars override both play and role vars
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect: group vars have lower precedence than role vars.
- ✗
the playbook must use include_vars after the role to override
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect: this is a workaround, not the explanation of the issue.
- ✓
vars defined in roles/vars/main.yml have higher precedence than those in the playbook's vars section
Why this is correct
Correct: role vars override play vars.
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 often confuse role defaults (defaults/main.yml) with role vars (vars/main.yml), assuming both are easily overridden by playbook vars. In Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform, role vars have higher precedence than playbook vars, making them effectively 'hardcoded' unless overridden by even higher precedence sources like extra vars or set_facts.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Ansible's variable precedence order (from lowest to highest) includes: role defaults, inventory vars, group_vars, host_vars, playbook vars, role vars, block vars, task vars, include_vars, set_facts, and extra vars. Role vars (vars/main.yml) sit above playbook vars, meaning they will override any variable of the same name defined in the playbook's vars section. This is a common source of confusion because role defaults (defaults/main.yml) have the lowest precedence and are easily overridden, but role vars are intentionally designed to be immutable by playbook-level definitions.
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 practitioner preparing for the EX294 exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
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 EX294 question test?
Implement advanced Ansible automation — This question tests Implement advanced Ansible automation — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: vars defined in roles/vars/main.yml have higher precedence than those in the playbook's vars section — In Ansible, variable precedence is hierarchical, and role defaults (roles/role_name/defaults/main.yml) have the lowest precedence, while role vars (roles/role_name/vars/main.yml) have a higher precedence than playbook-level vars. Since the developer set the variable in the playbook's vars section, but the role still uses the value from its vars/main.yml, this indicates that vars defined in roles/vars/main.yml override those in the playbook's vars section, making option D correct.
What should I do if I get this EX294 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.
About these practice questions
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
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