IT Certifications · PL-400

Exam PL-400: Microsoft Power Platform Developer Practice Test

PL-400 practice focuses on developing solutions that connect Power Apps, Power Automate, and Dataverse. The subject area includes canvas app formulas, Dataverse data access and security, server-side extensions, and application integration. Developers need to choose suitable components, pass data between services, and implement logic that behaves reliably with real business records.

Exam overview

Exam providerMicrosoft
Exam codePL-400
CategoryIT Certifications

About the Exam PL-400: Microsoft Power Platform Developer Exam

Power Platform development involves decisions across client-side apps, Dataverse, and automation. In canvas apps, developers use formulas to present values, handle user input, and query data while accounting for delegation so filtering can run against the data source. Dataverse work includes selecting column types, querying rows through the Web API, and assigning table privileges through security roles. Server-side tasks may involve custom APIs and plug-ins, where developers must consider execution behavior and external-service calls. Integration scenarios connect apps to flows and use Dataverse events to trigger automation; filtering triggers by row values can prevent unnecessary runs. These skills support building maintainable business solutions, diagnosing data and security issues, and choosing where logic belongs—in an app, a flow, or Dataverse.

Sample Practice Questions

Review a selection from this exam's published US Practice Tests practice bank.

Question 1

A canvas app calls a Power Automate flow and needs to pass a record identifier. What should the flow expose so the app can provide that value when invoking it?

  1. AA trigger input parameter
  2. BA Dataverse business rule
  3. CA connection reference output
  4. DA solution publisher prefix
Show answerCorrect answer: A

A flow triggered from Power Apps can define input parameters that the app supplies when calling the flow. Connection references help manage connections in solutions, but they do not serve as runtime input parameters.

Question 2

A canvas app needs to display a visual trend from a collection of numeric values. Which control is intended to present data in a graphical chart?

  1. AA chart control
  2. BA timer control
  3. CA barcode reader control
  4. DA form control
Show answerCorrect answer: A

A chart control visualizes data as a graph, such as a column or line chart. Timers, barcode readers, and forms serve time-based actions, scanning, and data entry or display, respectively.

Question 3

A developer needs to create a reusable custom function in Dataverse that can be invoked by clients and can perform server-side logic without changing data. Which custom API setting is most appropriate?

  1. AConfigure the custom API as a function
  2. BConfigure the custom API as an action
  3. CRegister it as a synchronous workflow
  4. DCreate a calculated column
Show answerCorrect answer: A

A Dataverse custom API configured as a function is intended for operations that return data and do not change data. Actions are appropriate when the operation performs a change or other side effect.

Question 4

A developer needs a Dataverse query to return rows whose modified date is later than a specified timestamp. Which Web API query option expresses this row-filter condition?

  1. A$select
  2. B$filter
  3. C$orderby
  4. D$expand
Show answerCorrect answer: B

The OData $filter query option specifies conditions that determine which rows are returned. $select limits columns, $orderby sorts results, and $expand requests related data.

Question 5

A maker needs to grant a user permission to read rows in a Dataverse table but not create, update, or delete them. Which security component is used to assign these table privileges?

  1. AA security role
  2. BA connection reference
  3. CA business process flow
  4. DA publisher
Show answerCorrect answer: A

Dataverse security roles define privileges such as read, create, write, and delete for tables, with privilege scope determining which rows are accessible. The other components do not assign table access privileges.

Question 6

A canvas app needs to display a readable label for a choice value stored on a Dataverse record. Which approach is appropriate when referencing the choice in a formula?

  1. AUse the choice value's label where text is required
  2. BConvert the choice to a GUID
  3. CUse the choice as a data source name
  4. DApply Sum to the choice value
Show answerCorrect answer: A

Dataverse choice values have associated labels intended for display. A formula that needs readable text should use the choice's label rather than treating the choice as a GUID, data source, or numeric measure.

Question 7

A Dataverse plug-in needs to make an HTTP request to an external service while executing. Which implementation practice is generally recommended to reduce the risk of blocking or timing out the Dataverse operation?

  1. AUse a short timeout and avoid long-running external calls in the synchronous pipeline
  2. BRetry the request indefinitely until it succeeds
  3. CPause the execution thread for several minutes before sending the request
  4. DStore the entire service response in the plug-in's static fields
Show answerCorrect answer: A

Synchronous plug-in execution can affect the caller's operation and is subject to execution limits. External calls should be bounded with sensible timeouts; lengthy or unreliable work is often better handled asynchronously or through another integration pattern.

How to use this practice test

The free US Practice Tests practice session presents up to 20 random questions from its PL-400 question bank. Use each scenario to reason through app formulas, Dataverse queries and privileges, plug-in behavior, and flow configuration. Results appear after the session so you can identify which concepts to revisit.

Preparation tips

  • Practice writing canvas app formulas that filter Dataverse data while preserving delegation, and check which operations execute at the data source.
  • Compare Dataverse column types and choice-value references for common app display and data-entry scenarios.
  • Trace Web API filter expressions and security-role privileges to determine which rows a user can read or change.
  • For integration scenarios, identify the flow inputs an app must supply and configure Dataverse triggers to run only for relevant row conditions.
  • Review plug-in designs that call external services, focusing on avoiding long-running or blocking work during Dataverse execution.
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