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Labs

Creating a DynamoDB Table

In this hands-on lab, we will create a DynamoDB table to store pet inventory data. In the scenario, the data architect on the team has requested a table definition with a partition key of `pet_species` with the data type `String`, a sort key of `pet_id` with the data type `Number`, and that the table be named `PetInventory`. Because the workload in development is not known, `On-Demand` provisioning should be utilized. We're free to create the table with any method we choose (web console, CLI/SDK, CloudFormation).

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Lab platform
Lab Info
Level
Beginner
Last updated
Sep 23, 2025
Duration
45m

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Table of Contents
  1. Challenge

    Create a DynamoDB Table Using the AWS Web Console
    1. Navigate to the DynamoDB web console.
    2. Click Create table.
    3. Provide configuration options outlined in the lab instructions.
    4. Click Create.
  2. Challenge

    Create a DynamoDB Table Using the AWS CLI

    The following command will create the requested DynamoDB table:

    aws dynamodb
        create-table
            --table-name PetInventory
            --attribute-definitions
                AttributeName=pet_species,AttributeType=S
                AttributeName=pet_id,AttributeType=N
            --key-schema
                AttributeName=pet_species,KeyType=HASH
                AttributeName=pet_id,KeyType=RANGE
            --billing-mode PAY_PER_REQUEST
    
  3. Challenge

    Create a DynamoDB Table with the Python Boto3 SDK

    The following Python script will create the requested DynamoDB table:

    import boto3
    ddb = boto3.client('dynamodb')
    createResponse = ddb.create_table(
        AttributeDefinitions=[
            {
                'AttributeName':'pet_species',
                'AttributeType': 'S',
            }, 
            {
                'AttributeName':'pet_id',
                'AttributeType':'N'
            }
        ], 
        KeySchema=[
            {
                'AttributeName':'pet_species',
                'KeyType':'HASH'
            },
            {
                'AttributeName':'pet_id',
                'KeyType':'RANGE'
            },
        ],
        BillingMode = 'PAY_PER_REQUEST',
        TableName='PetInventory'
    )
    
  4. Challenge

    Create a DynamoDB Table with CloudFormation

    The following template will create the requested DynamoDB table"

    {
        "AWSTemplateFormatVersion": "2010-09-09",
        "Resources": {
            "PetTable": {
                "Type": "AWS::DynamoDB::Table",
                "Properties": {
                    "AttributeDefinitions" : [
                        {
                            "AttributeName": "pet_species",
                            "AttributeType": "S"
                        },
                        {
                            "AttributeName": "pet_id",
                            "AttributeType": "N"
                        }
                    ],
                    "KeySchema" : [
                        {
                            "AttributeName": "pet_species",
                            "KeyType": "HASH"
                        },
                        {
                            "AttributeName": "pet_id",
                            "KeyType": "RANGE"
                        }
                    ],
                    "TableName": "PetInventory",
                    "BillingMode": "PAY_PER_REQUEST"
                }
            }
        }
    }
    
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