This SPLK-1002 practice question tests your understanding of splunk basics and interface navigation. 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.
index=web sourcetype=access_combined status=404 | stats count by uri_path | sort - count
Refer to the exhibit. What is the primary purpose of this search?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "primary"
Why it matters: Asks for the main purpose or function, not a secondary benefit. Eliminate answers that describe side-effects or partial functions.
index=web sourcetype=access_combined status=404 | stats count by uri_path | sort - count
Count all events
Why wrong: It only counts events with status=404.
List all URIs with 404 errors
Why wrong: It counts, not just lists.
Identify top URI paths by 404 count
The descending sort reveals the highest counts first.
Count 404 errors by URI path
Why wrong: It does count, but the sort indicates a focus on top paths.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Identify top URI paths by 404 count
The search uses `top` to find the most frequent URI paths among events with a 404 status code, then displays them in descending order of count. This directly identifies the top URI paths by 404 count, making option C correct.
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.
Count all events
Why it's wrong here
It only counts events with status=404.
List all URIs with 404 errors
Why it's wrong here
It counts, not just lists.
Identify top URI paths by 404 count
Why this is correct
The descending sort reveals the highest counts first.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "primary" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Count 404 errors by URI path
Why it's wrong here
It does count, but the sort indicates a focus on top paths.
Common exam traps
Splunk often tests the distinction between `top` (which ranks and limits results) and `stats count by` (which counts all values without ranking), leading candidates to choose option D when the question asks for the 'primary purpose' of identifying top paths.
Detailed technical explanation
The `top` command in Splunk uses a field-value aggregation to compute counts and then sorts results in descending order, limiting output to the top N values (default 10). This is distinct from `stats count by uri_path`, which would return all counts without ranking. In real-world troubleshooting, identifying the top 404 URIs helps prioritize fixes for the most impactful broken links or misconfigurations.
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 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
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FAQ
Splunk Basics and Interface Navigation — This question tests Splunk Basics and Interface Navigation — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Identify top URI paths by 404 count — The search uses `top` to find the most frequent URI paths among events with a 404 status code, then displays them in descending order of count. This directly identifies the top URI paths by 404 count, making option C correct.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Yes — watch for: "primary". Asks for the main purpose or function, not a secondary benefit. Eliminate answers that describe side-effects or partial functions.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
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.
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