Magento 2 Certified Professional Developer Plus Plus

Exam topics and the approximate percentage covered in the test:

Exam topics and the percentage covered in the test.

Magento Architecture 6%
Magento UI 7%
Working with Databases 14%
Using the Entity-Attribute-Value (EAV) Model 10%
Developing with Adminhtml 5%
Customizing the Catalog 23%
Customizing the Checkout Process 17%
Magento Commerce Features 13%
Understanding Magento Security 5%

Topics and Objectives

1 Magento Architecture

1.1 Determine advanced uses of the Magento configuration system

Understand how to create a custom config file. Demonstrate an understanding of the Magento Configuration files framework
Understand how to create a custom config file with validation and a unique node that is overridden on merging
Understand how to create a config file with a remote schema

1.2 Demonstrate an ability to design complex customizations using plugins and

di.xml

Plugins sort order, plugin on plugin scenario, plugin debugging techniques. Demonstrate an understanding of virtual types, shared objects, object instantiation process, proxies, factories
How does an around plugin modify the plugin execution order?
How do you debug a plugin that is not executed?
Demonstrate Plugin on Plugin examples
Which classes are instantiated outside of the ObjectManager so they cannot be customizing using di.xml?
Demonstrate a use case for a virtual type (different instances of a class with a different set of arguments)

1.3 Demonstrate understanding of Magento events processing

Demonstrate an understanding of the events processing flow. Influence of Staging on the event processing
What is a modification of the event processing mechanism introduced by the staging module?

1.4 Demonstrate an ability to use the Magento command-line interface

Create a new CLI command, emulate different areas within it
Create a new CLI-command, configure it in di.xml, add optional/required options/keys
Environment specification using Area class
Environment emulation for a section of code

2 Magento UI

2.1 Demonstrate understanding UiComponents architecture

UiComponent workflow, initialization, execution, configuration structure, data loading process
Retrieving a UiCompnent's instance from the uiRegistry
Understand the difference between executing a data provider component and loading data
Describe the role of UiComponent PHP classes
Understand the uiClass instance, extending uiComponent

2.2 Demonstrate advanced use of Magento layouts

Non-standard layouts, custom handles, debugging layouts
Add a custom handle, obtain a list of handles loaded for a page
Obtain the layout XML for a page
Containers elements with a wrapping DIV tag
Dynamically modify the layout tree

2.3 Demonstrate an ability to operate with Magento blocks and templates

Block caching, fallback debugging, email templates, translations
Cache all instances of the block, specific instance
Assign an object to the email template. Render different images depending on a locale in the email template
Identify the location of block instantiation
Print out all places where Magento looks for a template
Demonstrate an understanding of different types of translations working together (inline, phrase in JavaScript code, CSV file)

3 Working with Databases

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3.1 Demonstrate understanding of the architectural layers of the database access

classes, including models, repositories, and data mappers

Models, resource models, and collections in Magento, their impact on performance. Repositories, SearchCriteria, WebAPI, WebAPI access, extension attributes
How to create an entity that supports extension attributes
How to implement SearchCriteria processing in the repository::getList method
How to perform bulk save operations in Magento- How to extend the Magento data object (Data API class) with an attribute that has values in a remote system
How to extend exisitng WebAPI calls with a new parameter
How to create a dynamic WebAPI ACL
The difference between extension attributes and custom attributes

3.2 Demonstrate understanding of the staging workflow

Staging modification to the Magento database operations (row_id, entity managers)
How does data versioning work?
Different possibilities of data versioning (row/table/database level) and how this is implemented in Magento
The role of the entity manager
High level staging implementation overview

3.3 Demonstrate an ability to use different types of setup scripts in Magento

Schema and data setup scripts, uninstall scripts, recurring scripts, uninstall schema vs. uninstall data
What happens when an uninstall script is executed: data version change, deleted tables, etc.
Recurring scripts and their order in the setup:upgrade process
Accessing areas and system configuration values in setup scripts

4 Using the Entity-Attribute-Value (EAV) Model

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4.1 Describe the EAV data access process in Magento

Getting an attribute instance, impact of attribute sets, large number of attributes and attribute sets
What is the impact of 10,000 attribute sets? 1,000 attributes in a set?
How to get information about an attribute
How to perform attribute operations programmatically: assign it to a set/group, update properties, etc.

4.2 Describe the database tables for EAV entities and how to create them

The EAV database structure, performance considerations, entity-level attribute properties (catalog_eav_attribute)
Where are catalog-specific attribute properties stored and what are they used for?
How does Magento store the attribute to attribute group association?
What backend types are available? How do you add a new backend type?
Specifics around static attributes

4.3 Demonstrate an ability to operate with attribute options

Different ways to store attribute options. Using eav_attribute_option_* tables
Config base, database base options
The eav_attribute_option_ table: tables that contain shared options between different entities, pros and cons of using the table

4.4 Demonstrate an ability to use non-catalog EAV entities

Adding an attribute to Customer, Customer Address and Sales entities. Making an attribute visible in the Admin or the storefront. Pitfalls in attributes operations in non-catalog EAV attributes
Adding an attribute to customers, saving and loading the attribute, problems related to the save process. What is the role of attribute sets and groups for customer attributes?
Adding an attribute to customer addresses, the role of the ""is_system"" property and why it only works for the Customer Address entity
How to make a customer or customer address attribute visible in the My Account, Checkout, and Admin pages
What is the purpose of the SalesSetup class and why do you use the addAttribute method for sales entities?

5 Developing with Adminhtml

5.1 Demonstrate ability to use ACL

Complex cases of ACL setup. WebAPI ACL, ACL process customization and debugging
How to debug an ACL record
How does a row-based ACL or IP-based ACL work in Magento?
The connection between admin ACL and WebAPI ACL
Different ways to access WebAPI resources including admin access

5.2 Demonstrate understanding of the admin login process and admin actions

processing

Admin login, customizing and debugging issues related to admins logging into Magento, the Admin Action class
Debugging the login process
Logging in an admin user programmatically
Customizing the login process: for example, adding 2-factor authentication
Operations performed by the Magento\Backend\App\Action class, for example, the secret key

5.3 Demonstrate an ability to create complex forms and grids

Complex forms with custom elements and with tabs. Complex grids with custom columns and inline editing customizations
Create custom elements for forms
Create a form with tabs
Create a form with a grid inside of a tab
Forms for editing related/nested data
Customization of inline editing in a grid; for example, a file uploader
Bookmark filters selection for a grid
Grid meta information: adding a new column that requires a join to another table

6 Customizing the Catalog

6.1 Demonstrate an ability to understand and customize Magento products

Selecting the right product type for a given requirement (configurable with custom options, bundle with grouped). Deciding to use non-standard products: for example, for licenses, subscriptions, courseware, or glasses. Product relations (related, upsells).
Select a product type for a subscription/subscription bundled with a physical product
Select a product type for courseware
Select a product type for glasses with a prescription
Compare custom options with configurable products
Configurable product with custom options for the associated simple products
Bundled product with custom options for its associated simple products
What is the related products database structure? Understand the performance impact of having many related products
Compare related with upsells
Programmatically access related products, custom options, configurable parameters
Dynamic related products

6.2 Demonstrate an ability to perform complex operations with the Magento pricing

framework

Understand the pricing calculation and rendering framework. Which classes are involved in rendering/calculation? What is the role of indexing? How do different price modifiers work together?
How is a price calculated on the product detail page, the product listing page? Price calculation classes. Relation to the price indexer
The Magento\Framework\Price* component and its extension in the Catalog module
How to render a product price: which class to use, which data needs to be provided
Indexed price vs. prices calculated on the fly
Price configuration: tier prices, special price, custom option, configurable adjustment, catalog rules, cart rules
How to change the price rendering process for a given product type/product instance
How to add a custom price adjustment to modify the calculation process. What happens if the price index is not aligned with this change?

6.3 Customize catalog price rules

Programmatically create a catalog price rule, the impact of catalog price rules on performance, extending catalog price rule conditions with custom entities

6.4 Determine how to use Magento categories

Advanced category features: hierarchy, custom attributes, impact on performance
What happens if a project has many categories?
Dynamic rules for the order of products in category
The category is_anchor attribute and its effect on performance

6.5 Demonstrate an understanding of catalog indexers

The indexing framework, the price indexer, the inventory indexer, the EAV indexer. How does Magento use indexed data?
Estimate indexing customization efforts when making architectural decisions. Estimate indexing process complexity and time for different given conditions. The impact of indexing for frequent catalog updates.
What steps does Magento perform when indexing? What is the role of the indexer_state table
How to register a new indexer
How does the price indexer work? Which events trigger it? How do different product types declare their indexers? How important is an order of indexers in price indexing?
Inventory indexer overview, inventory indexing for different product types
What is the scope of a price in the price index? How difficult is it to extend the scope of an index?
Impact of many stores/websites on price indexing
Custom price modifiers: Pros and cons of customizing the index versus adjusting the native features like price rules or custom options

6.6 Demonstrate understanding of catalog staging and its impact on the system

Flow modifications introduced by staging (triggers, row_id, data versions). Staging-related modifications of the indexing process
Issues related to different row_id and entity_id
Catalog triggers

6.7 Demonstrate an understanding of the product search framework

How to customize Elastic search

6.8 Demonstrate understanding of importing products and categories in Magento

Frequent imports, massive imports, import with many attributes
Issues related to a frequent import, for example every minute
Compare importing products using the native import, save by model, or custom SQL
Specifics of importing a catalog with many attributes and attribute sets
Importing categories and product relations

7 Customizing the Checkout Process

7.1 Understand the Magento quote architecture and customizing quote-related

functionality

Quote-related objects, total models and the price calculation process, the add to cart process, custom add to cart operations, customizations of the price calculation, taxes and discount, various display settings
The quote merge functionality
Programmatically add a free gift when a certain condition is met
Programmatically set a price for a product
Taxes with discounts calculation
The impact of many shopping cart price rules on performance
Programmatically create shopping cart price rules
Importing coupon codes
Extend the shopping cart price rules with custom entities
Programmatically separate line items in the shopping cart so there are two line items instead of one with qty=2
Adding a new total model and evaluating its impact on taxes and discounts
Shipping discounts behavior and customizations
WebAPI for quote operations. Create a quote, add an item, create a coupon, add a discount

7.2 Demonstrate an ability to customize and extend the checkout process

Checkout steps, the REST API, customizations of the checkout API, the order placement process. The impact of many concurrent order placements
Adding a step to the checkout after the payment step, or between the payment and shipping steps
Implementing a ""one-click"" checkout, evaluate possible pitfalls such as discounts being applied or canceled when the order is placed
The checkout REST API: Modifying the native flow (separate calls to save payment and to place the order)
Extending the checkout REST API. Adding new parameters to different API endpoints. Using extension attributes
Issues related to simultaneous order placement, inventory locking
Determining the exact moment when the stock is decremented during an order placement
Customizing the order placement such that it uses message queues
Horizontal sharding of orders tables to improve order placement capacity. What challenges need to be resolved?

7.3 Create and debug shipping and payment methods in Magento

Different types of payment methods: gateway, offline, hosted. The gateway payment methods framework. The payment method availability logic. The shipping rates calculation process, debugging shipping rates and table rates customizations
The gateway framework vs. AbstractMethod
The structure of offline payment methods. What makes them "offline"?
Partial invoices/refunds for payment methods
Add a hosted-type payment method (redirects, custom order review page)
Add a new shipping method. Customize the logic for getting a list of available shipping methods
The shipping rate calculation flow. Debug shipping rates, identify plugins that that influence the shipping rate calculation process
Customizing table rates. Add a new "column" to the "table", change the logic of selecting the rate.
Gateway shipping methods. Remote call flow. How to avoid the remote call if it is unnecessary

8 Magento Commerce Features

8.1 Demonstrate an ability to use message queues

Create a listener/publisher. Use cases for using message queues
How to register a listener/publisher for a queue
How to configure a queue
What is a use case to use message queues?

8.2 Demonstrate understanding of customer segmentation

Describe the customer segments functionality, its use cases, impact on performance, and programmatical operations with customer segments
Programmatically create a customer segment
Extend customer segments with new entities or attributes
Understand the database structure of customer segments

8.3 Demonstrate understanding of advanced capabilities in Magento Commerce

Store credits, reward points, RMA, gift cards
Compare RMA with refunds
Customizing the RMA process
Customizing store credits/reward points accrual/spending

8.4 Demonstrate understanding of target rules

Customer rules database structure, use cases, comparison to other product relations, operate with target rules programmatically
Target rules vs. related products
Extending target rules with a custom attribute or a custom entity
Create a rule programmatically, understand the database structure of a rule
What is the performance impact of having many target rules in the system?
How does editing a product or adding new products affect existing target rules?

9 Understanding Magento Security

9.1 Demonstrate understanding of frontend security with Magento

Filter input and escape output; password and sensitive data hashing; validate user file uploads; how to prevent cross site scripting vulnerabilities
How to validate field values before inserting them into the database
How to escape output to remove HTML tags
Using secure encryption and hashing functions to store sensitive values in the database
Validate file uploads, the file type, the file contents, and the file metadata

9.2 Demonstrate understanding Adminhtml security with Magento

CSRF tokens; stored XSS; adminhtml secret key; security configuration; securing email from injection; preventing admin privilege escalation
How to prevent CSRF attacks; the importance of the form_key field in forms
How is the admin secret key generated in URLs?
Security related admin configurations
Security by obscurity, the custom admin path

9.3 Demonstrate understanding of different types of attacks and preventing them

with Magento

Remote code execution; local and remote file inclusions; session hijacking; SQL injection; insecure functions; directory traversal attacks
PHP functions that should never be used, per Magento recommendations (eval, serialize, etc.)
How to prevent directory traversals attacks when uploading a file
Importance of the HttpOnly property when setting a cookie
Serving Magento from the base vs. the pub/ directory
Retrieving the user IP from the REMOTE_ADDR header vs. the X-Forwarded-For header
File operations influenced by user-submitted request parameters, how to stop directory traversal attacks and restrict access to dirs/files
How to write secure SQL queries

Magento 2 Certified Professional Developer Plus Exam

Example Questions See the Answer Key following the questions for answers and references.

Question 1

In your phtml template file you need to output a URL inside a JavaScript context.

var url = '<?= /* code here */ ?>'

Which two methods allow you to keep the output XSS-safe?

A. escapeUrl
B. escapeHtmlAttr
C. escapeHtml
D. escapeJs

Question 2

You are working on a custom form in the Admin and the form is too lengthy. To organize the form better, you decide to group the fields into multiple tabs. How do you achieve this?

A. Create a plugin for the method MyCompany\MyModule\Block\Adminhtml\Form\Edit\Tabs::toHtml()
B. Add the fields into nodes in the customer_account_edit.xml layout file
C. Add the fields into a node in the existing form in the ui_component XML file
D. Add a new form for the field group in the ui_component XML file

Question 3

You are making some changes to your existing action controller

\MyCompany\MyModule\Controller\Index\Index
 public function __construct(
 \Magento\Framework\App\Action\Context $context,
 <new dependency here>,
 \Magento\Framework\View\Result\PageFactory $resultPageFactory
 ) {

You want to inject a new dependency to the controller, but you encounter the following error after flushing the cache and reloading the page: Recoverable Error: Argument 2 passed to

 MyCompany\MyModule\Controller\Index\Index::__construct() must be an
instance of <new dependency class> ...

How do you fix the error?

A. New dependencies must be added at the end of the constructor signature because dependencies cannot be added in the middle of existing constructors
B. Remove the generated child class from generated/code that is calling the parent constructor with the old signature
C. Clean the config cache that contains all constructor signatures
D. Configure the new argument in di.xml for the controller class

Question 4

You are working with an OMS that requires you to add an attribute to the order API. How do you add a field to the existing sales API?

A. You update Magento\Sales\Api\OrderManagementInterface and Magento\Sales\Api\Data\OrderInterface to add your field
B. You add an extension attribute to Magento\Sales\Api\Data\OrderInterface to include the new field
C. You create an install script to add a column to the sales table and Magento will automatically pull in the information
D. You create an etc/webapi.xml file and add the new field as an item to the route, as shown in the following code:

#### Question 5 In your phtml template file you need to output a URL inside a JavaScript context. ``` var url = ''; ```