First table creation in DynamoDB - Practice Problems & Coding Challenges

Challenge - 5 Problems

❓ query_result

intermediate

What is the output of this DynamoDB table creation command?

Consider this AWS CLI command to create a DynamoDB table named 'Books' with 'ISBN' as the partition key. What will be the result if the command runs successfully?

DynamoDB

aws dynamodb create-table --table-name Books --attribute-definitions AttributeName=ISBN,AttributeType=S --key-schema AttributeName=ISBN,KeyType=HASH --provisioned-throughput ReadCapacityUnits=5,WriteCapacityUnits=5

A Syntax error due to missing sort key definition.

B Table 'Books' is created but with default throughput of 1 read and 1 write unit.

C Table 'Books' is created with 'ISBN' as the partition key and provisioned throughput of 5 read and 5 write units.

D Error because 'ISBN' attribute type 'S' is invalid.

💡 Hint

Remember that DynamoDB requires at least a partition key and you can specify throughput explicitly.

The command correctly defines a table named 'Books' with 'ISBN' as the partition key (HASH) of type string (S). Provisioned throughput is set to 5 read and 5 write units. No sort key is required.

📝 Syntax

intermediate

Which option contains a syntax error in DynamoDB table creation?

Identify the option that will cause a syntax error when creating a DynamoDB table with a partition key 'UserId' of type string.

A aws dynamodb create-table --table-name Users --attribute-definitions AttributeName=UserId,AttributeType=S --key-schema AttributeName=UserId,KeyType=HASH --provisioned-throughput ReadCapacityUnits=1,WriteCapacityUnits=1

B aws dynamodb create-table --table-name Users --attribute-definitions AttributeName=UserId,AttributeType=S --key-schema AttributeName=UserId,KeyType=HASH --provisioned-throughput ReadCapacityUnits=5,WriteCapacityUnits=5

C aws dynamodb create-table --table-name Users --attribute-definitions AttributeName=UserId,AttributeType=S --key-schema AttributeName=UserId,KeyType=HASH --provisioned-throughput ReadCapacityUnits=10,WriteCapacityUnits=10

D aws dynamodb create-table --table-name Users --attribute-definitions AttributeName=UserId,AttributeType=String --key-schema AttributeName=UserId,KeyType=HASH --provisioned-throughput ReadCapacityUnits=1,WriteCapacityUnits=1

💡 Hint

Check the attribute type values allowed by DynamoDB.

DynamoDB attribute types are single letters like 'S' for string, not full words like 'String'. Option D uses 'String' which is invalid and causes a syntax error.

🧠 Conceptual

advanced

Why is a sort key optional when creating a DynamoDB table?

When creating a DynamoDB table, you can define a partition key alone or both a partition key and a sort key. Why might you choose to omit the sort key?

A Because DynamoDB requires a sort key only for tables with more than 1000 items.

B Because a partition key alone uniquely identifies each item, so a sort key is not always necessary.

C Because the sort key is only used for indexing and does not affect uniqueness.

D Because the sort key is deprecated and no longer supported in DynamoDB.

💡 Hint

Think about how DynamoDB uses keys to identify items.

The partition key uniquely identifies each item in the table. A sort key is optional and used to organize items with the same partition key. It is not mandatory for uniqueness.

❓ query_result

advanced

What is the output of this DynamoDB table creation with a composite key?

This command creates a table 'Orders' with 'OrderId' as partition key and 'OrderDate' as sort key. What will be the result?

DynamoDB

aws dynamodb create-table --table-name Orders --attribute-definitions AttributeName=OrderId,AttributeType=S AttributeName=OrderDate,AttributeType=S --key-schema AttributeName=OrderId,KeyType=HASH AttributeName=OrderDate,KeyType=RANGE --provisioned-throughput ReadCapacityUnits=10,WriteCapacityUnits=10

A Table 'Orders' is created with composite primary key (OrderId, OrderDate) and provisioned throughput of 10 read and 10 write units.

B Error due to missing comma between attribute definitions.

C Table 'Orders' is created but only with 'OrderId' as key, ignoring 'OrderDate'.

D Syntax error because provisioned throughput values are too high.

💡 Hint

Check how multiple attributes and keys are defined in the command.

The command correctly defines two attributes and a composite key with partition and sort keys. Provisioned throughput is valid. The table will be created as expected.

🔧 Debug

expert

Why does this DynamoDB table creation command fail?

This command attempts to create a table 'Employees' with 'EmployeeId' as partition key. Why does it fail?

DynamoDB

aws dynamodb create-table --table-name Employees --attribute-definitions AttributeName=EmployeeId,AttributeType=N --key-schema AttributeName=EmployeeId,KeyType=HASH --provisioned-throughput ReadCapacityUnits=0,WriteCapacityUnits=5

A Because ReadCapacityUnits cannot be zero; it must be at least 1.

B Because attribute type 'N' is invalid for partition key.

C Because the key schema is missing a sort key.

D Because WriteCapacityUnits cannot be less than ReadCapacityUnits.

💡 Hint

Check the allowed values for provisioned throughput.

DynamoDB requires ReadCapacityUnits and WriteCapacityUnits to be at least 1. Setting ReadCapacityUnits to 0 causes the command to fail.