This EX294 practice question tests your understanding of manage task execution and roles. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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 team is writing an Ansible role to configure a web server. They want to include default variables that can be easily overridden by playbook variables. Which directory and file should they use to define these variables?
vars/defaults.yml
Why wrong: Standard location is defaults/main.yml, not vars/defaults.yml.
defaults/main.yml
This file contains variables with the lowest precedence, allowing easy override.
default_vars/main.yml
Why wrong: This directory is not part of the standard Ansible role structure.
vars/main.yml
Why wrong: Variables here have high precedence and cannot be overridden by playbook variables.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
defaults/main.yml
In Ansible roles, default variables are defined in the `defaults/main.yml` file. These variables have the lowest precedence, meaning they can be easily overridden by playbook variables, inventory variables, or any other variable source with higher precedence. This design allows role authors to provide sensible defaults while giving users the flexibility to customize behavior without modifying the role itself.
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.
vars/defaults.yml
Why it's wrong here
Standard location is defaults/main.yml, not vars/defaults.yml.
defaults/main.yml
Why this is correct
This file contains variables with the lowest precedence, allowing easy override.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
default_vars/main.yml
Why it's wrong here
This directory is not part of the standard Ansible role structure.
vars/main.yml
Why it's wrong here
Variables here have high precedence and cannot be overridden by playbook variables.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates confuse the `defaults/` directory (lowest precedence) with the `vars/` directory (higher precedence), or they invent non-standard directory names like `default_vars/`, because the exam tests precise knowledge of the Ansible role directory structure and variable precedence rules.
Detailed technical explanation
Ansible's variable precedence hierarchy places `defaults/main.yml` at the lowest priority (priority 1), while `vars/main.yml` sits at priority 5, above inventory and playbook variables. This means that any variable defined in `vars/main.yml` will override a playbook variable of the same name, which is the opposite of what the team wants. Understanding this precedence is critical when designing reusable roles, as misplacing variables can lead to unexpected behavior where playbook overrides are silently ignored.
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
Manage task execution and roles — This question tests Manage task execution and roles — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: defaults/main.yml — In Ansible roles, default variables are defined in the `defaults/main.yml` file. These variables have the lowest precedence, meaning they can be easily overridden by playbook variables, inventory variables, or any other variable source with higher precedence. This design allows role authors to provide sensible defaults while giving users the flexibility to customize behavior without modifying the role itself.
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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