DynamoDB Streams capture a time-ordered log of every change to a table — inserts, updates, deletes — that other services can react to in near real time.
What they enable
Streams commonly trigger a Lambda function on each change, powering things like replication, aggregation, notifications, or keeping a search index in sync. When a scenario says “do something whenever a DynamoDB item changes,” the pattern is DynamoDB Streams → Lambda.
Test yourself
Every time an item in a DynamoDB table is updated, a downstream system must be notified in near real time. What’s the best approach?
- Poll the table every minute
- Enable DynamoDB Streams to trigger a Lambda function
- Run a nightly batch export
- Add a Read Replica
👉 Click to reveal the answer & explanation
Correct answer: B. DynamoDB Streams emit an ordered record of changes that triggers Lambda in near real time — event-driven and efficient. Polling (A) and nightly batches (C) add latency; DynamoDB doesn’t use Read Replicas (D) the way RDS does.
Related topics
Amazon DynamoDB · AWS Lambda · Kinesis Data Streams
Ready to pass the AWS Data Engineer Associate (DEA-C01)?
Stop guessing whether you’re ready. Our full-length, exam-realistic practice exams put you through the exact question style you’ll face — with a detailed explanation behind every answer, so you learn why, not just what.
- ✓ 6 full-length practice exams
- ✓ A detailed explanation for every single question
- ✓ Realistic, scenario-based questions — not memory dumps
- ✓ Lifetime access, kept current for 2026
Get the DEA-C01 Practice Exams →or try 25 free questions first