This SPLK-1002 practice question tests your understanding of creating reports, dashboards and visualizations. 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.
Exhibit
index=applications sourcetype=app_log
| rex field=message "Error code: (?<error_code>\d+)"
| stats count by error_code
| sort - count
| head 5
Refer to the exhibit. What will be the output of this search?
Exhibit
index=applications sourcetype=app_log
| rex field=message "Error code: (?<error_code>\d+)"
| stats count by error_code
| sort - count
| head 5
A
The five most frequent error codes
Correct. The search returns the top 5 error codes by count.
B
The five least frequent error codes
Why wrong: Incorrect. It sorts descending, so it shows the most frequent.
C
Only error codes that appear more than five times
Why wrong: Incorrect. head 5 limits to 5 results, not minimum count.
D
All error codes sorted alphabetically
Why wrong: Incorrect. It sorts by count descending, not alphabetically.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The five most frequent error codes
The search uses the `top` command, which by default returns the most frequent values of the specified field (`error_code`) in descending order of count, limited to the top 10 results. Since the search explicitly limits the output to 5 with `limit=5`, the result is the five most frequent error codes. This is the standard behavior of the `top` command in Splunk's SPL.
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.
✓
The five most frequent error codes
Why this is correct
Correct. The search returns the top 5 error codes by count.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
The five least frequent error codes
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. It sorts descending, so it shows the most frequent.
✗
Only error codes that appear more than five times
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. head 5 limits to 5 results, not minimum count.
✗
All error codes sorted alphabetically
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. It sorts by count descending, not alphabetically.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may confuse `top` with `rare` or assume that `top` includes a minimum count filter, when in fact it simply returns the most frequent values up to the specified limit without any threshold.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
Incorrect. It sorts descending, so it shows the most frequent.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The `top` command in Splunk internally performs a `stats count by error_code` followed by a `sort -count` and then a `head 5` (or the specified limit). This command is optimized for quickly identifying the most common field values, and it automatically adds a `count` and `percent` field to the results. In real-world scenarios, this is commonly used for error analysis, such as identifying the most frequent HTTP status codes or log error types to prioritize troubleshooting efforts.
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 SPLK-1002 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.
Creating Reports, Dashboards and Visualizations — This question tests Creating Reports, Dashboards and Visualizations — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The five most frequent error codes — The search uses the `top` command, which by default returns the most frequent values of the specified field (`error_code`) in descending order of count, limited to the top 10 results. Since the search explicitly limits the output to 5 with `limit=5`, the result is the five most frequent error codes. This is the standard behavior of the `top` command in Splunk's SPL.
What should I do if I get this SPLK-1002 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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