The answer is the productId and its count for the 10 product IDs with the highest event counts. This is correct because the `top` command in Splunk, when applied to a field like `productId`, automatically returns the most frequent values based on event count, defaulting to the top 10 results along with their respective counts and percentages. On the Splunk Core Certified User SPLK-1002 exam, this tests your understanding of the `top` command’s default behavior, which is a common topic in the "Statistical Commands" domain. A frequent trap is confusing `top` with `rare` or forgetting that `top` always includes a count column unless you specify `showcount=f`. Remember the mnemonic: "Top Ten Counts" — the `top` command gives you the top ten values and their event counts by default.
SPLK-1002 Basic Searching and Transforming Commands Practice Question
This SPLK-1002 practice question tests your understanding of basic searching and transforming commands. 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=web sourcetype=access status=200 | stats count by productId | sort - count | head 10
Refer to the exhibit. What will be the output of this search?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The productId and its count for the 10 product IDs with the highest event counts
The search uses the `top` command, which by default returns the 10 most frequent values of the specified field (`productId`) based on event count, along with their counts. Option D correctly describes this output: the `productId` and its count for the 10 product IDs with the highest event counts.
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.
✗
All productId values sorted alphabetically
Why it's wrong here
The sort is numeric descending on count, not alphabetical.
✗
ProductId values with count=0
Why it's wrong here
The stats command counts events, so counts are at least 1.
✗
The top 10 productId values based on event count
Why it's wrong here
Missing the explicit count output.
✓
The productId and its count for the 10 product IDs with the highest event counts
Why this is correct
The search exactly produces that result.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Splunk often tests the distinction between `top` returning only the field values versus returning both the field values and their counts, leading candidates to choose Option C when the correct answer is D.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
The stats command counts events, so counts are at least 1.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The `top` command in Splunk is a transforming command that calculates the frequency of each distinct value of a field and returns the most common ones, defaulting to 10 results. It uses the `count` field to store the event count per value and can be modified with options like `limit` or `showcount`. Under the hood, `top` is equivalent to `| stats count by productId | sort -count | head 10`, but it also automatically adds a `percent` field by default.
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.
Basic Searching and Transforming Commands — This question tests Basic Searching and Transforming Commands — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The productId and its count for the 10 product IDs with the highest event counts — The search uses the `top` command, which by default returns the 10 most frequent values of the specified field (`productId`) based on event count, along with their counts. Option D correctly describes this output: the `productId` and its count for the 10 product IDs with the highest event counts.
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.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. What is the purpose of this search?
hard
A.To list the first 5 status codes in alphabetical order.
B.To filter events with status codes that appear less than 5 times.
✓ C.To display the 5 most common HTTP status codes in the web index.
D.To show the 5 most recent events sorted by status code.
Why C: The search uses `top` to find the most common values in the `status` field, limited to 5 results. The `top` command counts occurrences and sorts by count descending, so it returns the 5 most frequent HTTP status codes from the web index. Option C correctly describes this behavior.
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This SPLK-1002 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Splunk 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 SPLK-1002 exam.
Question Discussion
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