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.
Which TWO filters can be used to combine two lists into one? (Select exactly two.)
`zip`
Why wrong: Incorrect; zip pairs elements, does not combine.
`union`
Correct; union returns the unique elements from both lists combined.
`intersect`
Correct; intersect returns the common elements, effectively creating a new list from two inputs.
`combine`
Why wrong: Incorrect; combine is for dictionaries.
`flatten`
Why wrong: Incorrect; flatten reduces nested lists into a single list, but does not combine two separate lists.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
`union`
Option B (`union`) is correct because the `union` filter in Ansible combines two lists by merging them into a single list containing all unique elements from both input lists. Option C (`intersect`) is also correct because it returns a list of elements that appear in both input lists, effectively combining them into one list of common items. Both filters operate on lists and produce a single list as output.
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.
`zip`
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect; zip pairs elements, does not combine.
`union`
Why this is correct
Correct; union returns the unique elements from both lists combined.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
`intersect`
Why this is correct
Correct; intersect returns the common elements, effectively creating a new list from two inputs.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
`combine`
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect; combine is for dictionaries.
`flatten`
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect; flatten reduces nested lists into a single list, but does not combine two separate lists.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates confuse `combine` (which only works for dictionaries) with a list-merging filter, or they assume `zip` produces a single flat list instead of a list of tuples.
Detailed technical explanation
The `union` filter in Ansible is implemented via Jinja2's `unique` filter internally, ensuring no duplicate elements in the result. The `intersect` filter uses set-like logic to find common elements, but note that both filters preserve the order of the first list for the output. In real-world playbooks, `union` is often used to merge host lists from different inventory sources, while `intersect` is useful for finding overlapping groups, such as common servers between two dynamic groups.
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: `union` — Option B (`union`) is correct because the `union` filter in Ansible combines two lists by merging them into a single list containing all unique elements from both input lists. Option C (`intersect`) is also correct because it returns a list of elements that appear in both input lists, effectively combining them into one list of common items. Both filters operate on lists and produce a single list as output.
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 25, 2026
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