Developing Solutions for Microsoft Azure (AZ-204) Practice Exam

What is the purpose of the outputs section in an Azure Resource Manager template?

1. Specify the resources to deploy

2. Return values from the deployed resources

3. Define values that are reused in your templates

4. Document the deployment process

The correct answer is: Return values from the deployed resources

The outputs section in an Azure Resource Manager (ARM) template serves a specific purpose by returning values from the deployed resources. This section allows users to access information about the resources that have been deployed or updated during the deployment process. For instance, if a virtual machine is created, you can extract essential details such as the public IP address or the resource ID of the VM. By defining outputs, you can easily reference these values in subsequent deployments or use them in scripts for further processing. This capability enhances the modularity and reusability of templates, making it easier to build complex environments with interdependent resources. The outputs help provide useful information to users and automations, enabling better management of resources after the deployment occurs. In contrast, other sections of an ARM template serve different purposes: the section for specifying resources is dedicated to defining what will be provisioned, while the values section focuses on parameters for configurability, and documentation purposes are generally handled through comments or external documentation rather than outputs.