This EX294 practice question tests your understanding of transform data with filters and plugins. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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 playbook needs to set a fact 'total_memory' by summing the 'memory_mb' values from a list of servers. Which filter should be used?
{{ servers | map(attribute='memory_mb') | sum }}
Correct: map attribute then sum.
{{ servers | map('memory_mb') | sum }}
Why wrong: map expects a filter or lambda, not attribute name.
{{ servers | sum }}
Why wrong: Would sum the list objects, not the attribute.
{{ servers | sum(attribute='memory_mb') }}
Why wrong: The 'sum' filter does not take an attribute parameter.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
{{ servers | map(attribute='memory_mb') | sum }}
Option A is correct because it uses the `map` filter with the `attribute` parameter to extract the `memory_mb` value from each dictionary in the list, then pipes the resulting list of integers into the `sum` filter to compute the total. This is the standard Ansible idiom for summing a specific attribute across a list of dictionaries.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
{{ servers | map(attribute='memory_mb') | sum }}
Why this is correct
Correct: map attribute then sum.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
{{ servers | map('memory_mb') | sum }}
Why it's wrong here
map expects a filter or lambda, not attribute name.
{{ servers | sum }}
Why it's wrong here
Would sum the list objects, not the attribute.
{{ servers | sum(attribute='memory_mb') }}
Why it's wrong here
The 'sum' filter does not take an attribute parameter.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates confuse the `map` filter's `attribute` parameter with a direct filter name argument, leading them to choose option B, or they incorrectly assume `sum` can accept an `attribute` parameter like some other filters do.
Detailed technical explanation
Under the hood, the `map` filter with `attribute='memory_mb'` iterates over each element in the list and applies Jinja2's `attr` filter to retrieve the specified key, returning a list of integers. The `sum` filter then reduces that list to a single integer. This pattern is essential when working with registered variables that contain lists of host facts, such as from `setup` or custom `set_fact` tasks, where direct summation of a nested attribute is required.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
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
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FAQ
Transform data with filters and plugins — This question tests Transform data with filters and plugins — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: {{ servers | map(attribute='memory_mb') | sum }} — Option A is correct because it uses the `map` filter with the `attribute` parameter to extract the `memory_mb` value from each dictionary in the list, then pipes the resulting list of integers into the `sum` filter to compute the total. This is the standard Ansible idiom for summing a specific attribute across a list of dictionaries.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
This EX294 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Red Hat certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the EX294 exam.
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