Phase Verbs / Action Phrases
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| access (AWS) | connect to and use AWS services |
| generate (access keys) | create credentials via the Management Console |
| download (credentials) | save access keys to your computer |
| embed (the SDK) | include the library inside your application code |
| automate (tasks) | write scripts that run without manual steps |
| interact with (services) | communicate with AWS APIs from a tool or application |
Technical Vocabulary
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Management Console | AWS’s web-based GUI; protected by username + password (+ MFA) |
| CLI (Command Line Interface) | Terminal-based tool for running AWS commands; protected by access keys |
| SDK (Software Development Kit) | Language-specific libraries for calling AWS APIs from within application code |
| Access Key ID | Public portion of AWS credentials — like a username; used to identify who is calling |
| Secret Access Key | Private portion of AWS credentials — like a password; must never be shared |
| Access Keys | The pair of Access Key ID + Secret Access Key used by CLI and SDK |
| Public API | AWS services expose APIs publicly; CLI and SDK call these APIs |
| Boto | AWS SDK for Python; the AWS CLI itself is built on Boto |
| IoT SDK | SDK for embedded/connected devices (thermal sensors, backlogs, etc.) |
Key Concepts
Three Ways to Access AWS
| Method | Interface | Protected by |
|---|---|---|
| Management Console | Web browser UI | Username + password + MFA |
| AWS CLI | Terminal / shell | Access Keys |
| AWS SDK | App code (libraries) | Access Keys |
Access Keys
- Generated in the Management Console
- Each IAM user creates their own access keys
- Access Key ID = public (like a username)
- Secret Access Key = private (like a password — never share)
- Never share access keys with others — they can create their own
AWS CLI
- Allows issuing commands like
aws s3 cp ...from the terminal - Direct access to AWS public APIs
- Used to write automation scripts
- Open-source on GitHub
AWS SDK
- Language-specific libraries (JavaScript, Python, PHP, .NET, Ruby, Java, Go, Node.js, C++)
- Also: Mobile SDKs (Android, iOS) and IoT SDKs
- Embedded inside application code — not a terminal tool
- The AWS CLI is built on the Python SDK (Boto)
Exam Tips
- CLI and SDK both use access keys (not password)
- Access Key ID ≠ password; Secret Access Key = the sensitive part
- Don’t confuse CLI (terminal tool) with SDK (library in your code)
- The CLI is built on the Python Boto SDK — this is a common trivia fact