EX294 Transform data with filters and plugins Practice Question
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.
An administrator needs to combine two dictionaries, `base_config` and `user_config`, where keys in `user_config` should override keys in `base_config`, and nested dictionaries should be merged recursively. Which filter syntax achieves this?
Option A is correct because the `combine` filter in Ansible with `recursive=True` merges two dictionaries, with `user_config` overriding `base_config`, and recursively merges nested dictionaries. This matches the requirement exactly, as `recursive=True` ensures that nested structures are combined rather than replaced outright.
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.
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse `recursive=True` with `deep=True` (which does not exist) or assume that the default `combine` behavior (shallow merge) is sufficient for nested dictionaries, leading them to pick option B or C.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The `combine` filter in Ansible is implemented via the `ansible.utils.combine` plugin, which supports `recursive` and `list_merge` parameters. When `recursive=True`, the filter traverses nested dictionaries and merges keys at each level, with the rightmost dictionary (user_config) taking precedence. This is essential for managing complex configurations like network device settings or application parameters where partial overrides are common, avoiding the need to manually merge nested structures.
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.
Transform data with filters and plugins — This question tests Transform data with filters and plugins — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: {{ base_config | combine(user_config, recursive=True) }} — Option A is correct because the `combine` filter in Ansible with `recursive=True` merges two dictionaries, with `user_config` overriding `base_config`, and recursively merges nested dictionaries. This matches the requirement exactly, as `recursive=True` ensures that nested structures are combined rather than replaced outright.
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.
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Question Discussion
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