Splunk Core Certified User Practice Exam

What does the command '| sort -count' do?

1. Removes the count field

2. Returns the count field in descending order

3. Displays all fields without sorting

4. Counts the unique field values

The correct answer is: Returns the count field in descending order

The command '| sort -count' indeed returns the count field in descending order. When used in a Splunk search, this command organizes the results based on the numerical values in the count field, effectively showing the most frequent events or values at the top of the displayed results. This function is particularly useful when you want to quickly identify the most common occurrences within a dataset. Sorting by the count field enables users to gain insights more efficiently, making it easier to see which events or data points are the most significant based on their frequency. This command is a valuable tool for any analysis requiring a clear view of where data concentration lies. In contrast, the other options do not accurately reflect the function of this command. For example, removing the count field would imply that the command alters the dataset by excluding information, which is not the case with sorting. Additionally, simply displaying all fields without sorting does not represent the action of sorting by count. Counting unique field values relates to a different function and is not what the sort command is primarily accomplishing.