Lab
Cloud
Data

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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Path Info

Level

Beginner

Duration

45m

Last updated

Sep 03, 2025

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.

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

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'
)

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"
            }
        }
    }
}

Author

Pluralsight Skills

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Creating a DynamoDB Table

Path Info

Table of Contents

Create a DynamoDB Table Using the AWS Web Console

Create a DynamoDB Table Using the AWS CLI

Create a DynamoDB Table with the Python Boto3 SDK

Create a DynamoDB Table with CloudFormation

What's a lab?

Provided environment for hands-on practice

Guided walkthrough

Did you know?