Power Apps interview Questions and Answers

This blog contains the most recent and frequently asked Microsoft Power Apps interview Questions and Answers. The below questions are prepared based on my recent interviews and discussion with Power Platform experts. If you want to impress your interviewer by answering some complicated, situation-based questions, then thorough preparation is paramount to achieve that.

This article will help you to understand the concepts easily before you go for an interview.

Please feel free to add the additional question if you have it on your mind and this will help to beginners for them to understand. The aim of the article is to share the information to everyone to get benefit on this.

As a Power Apps Consultant/Developer, you can impress your clients with Canvas Apps, model-driven charts, dashboards, user-friendly GUI. 

PowerApps is truly the future of building custom forms and then making them available on mobile devices for your organization.

What is Power Apps?

Ans:

Microsoft Power Apps offers a modern approach to developing business applications for mobile, tablet, and browser platforms. Power Apps will help you through the creation of robust and productive apps that will add value to your organization.

 PowerApps at its core is referred to as a Platform as a Service.

 It allows you to create Mobile Apps that can run on different platforms like Android, iOS, Windows (Modern Apps) – and with almost any Internet browser.

What are the Types of Power Apps?

Ans:

 We have an option to choose three types of Power APPS,

1. Canvas App
2. Model Driven App
3. Portal

What are the major components of PowerApps?

Ans:

 PowerApps is a Platform as a Service (PaaS) at its core. This business app development platform has primary components:

• Canvas apps.
• Model-driven apps.
• Portals.
• Microsoft Data verse.

Explain Environment Variables in PowerApps?

Ans:

 Environment variables store the parameter keys and values, which then serve as input to various other application objects.

Similarly, we have different SharePoint sites and lists for dev, QA, production. When I migrate, the solution containing the apps and flows to other environment, we can use the environment variables without changing the configuration/json.

Reference:

https://sharepains.com/2021/05/27/environment-variables-in-power-apps/ 

https://evolvous.com/learn-from-expert/data-source-environment-variables/ 

 

What is Canvas APP?

Ans: 

Canvas apps provides you with a blank canvas onto which you can drag and drop components in any formation to design a user interface. Also, you can make additional adjustments to the size and formatting of each of these components without writing separate CSS styles.

Canvas apps are chiefly used for mobile devices. They are not responsive by design and there are only two basic layout options – 

• portrait 
• landscape.

If you’re able to use PowerPoint and have a basic understanding of Excel formulas, you can build canvas apps.  Canvas is to Design the app by dragging and dropping elements onto a canvas, just as you would design a slide in PowerPoint.

Canvas apps are not responsive by design, but it is possible to make canvas apps responsive by adjusting the size and positioning of different controls in relative terms to screen size using hard-coded values.

What is Model Driven APP?

Ans:

 The basis of a model-driven app is always a data model, which can be pre-existing in Dynamics 365 or the Data verse or be built from scratch. Model-driven apps are based on Data verse and executed in Dynamics 365.Model-driven app design is an approach that focuses on adding components such as

• Forms
• Views
• Charts
• Dashboards 

Model-driven apps in PowerApps are based on underlying data — specifically, the data stored in Data verse. However, it takes on a more data-driven approach than the canvas app, which is where its alternative name is derived from (data-driven app).

Notes:

• Model Driven App Supports Only Data Verse Platform.
• Model Driven App Automatically responsive. Model Driven App have a similar user interface across various devices from desktop to mobile. The user experience is consistent across all model-driven apps
• Once the data model and relationships have been created, the build process is relatively rapid due to rich component-focused no-code designers.
• Model-driven Power Apps can be customized and adapted with JavaScript.

Reference Links:

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/power-apps/maker/model-driven-apps/model-driven-app-overview 

What programming language is Power Apps?

Ans: 

Microsoft Power Fx is currently powering the Microsoft Power Apps. 

Microsoft Power Fx is a low-level programming language used to represent logic across the Microsoft Power Platform

Refer this blog: https://www.c-sharpcorner.com/article/how-to-use-formulas-and-functions-in-powerappspower-fx/ 

When did you choose Model-driven apps over Canvas apps?

Ans:

It Depends upon the requirement, a model-driven app can be an easier choice to make if the data source is supposed to be Data verse and no custom UI is required.

Model-driven apps, you start with the data model, you can create your tables and your relationships between those tables and then started building your app by simply connecting to your tables in Microsoft Data Verse and leveraging forms and views that you create inside the data model.

Can you share a canvas app with external business partners and contractors?

Ans:

Yes, we can. Using Azure Active Directory B2B external collaboration for the tenant, guest users can be invited to use the app.

Which are the types of variables that are used in PowerApps?

Ans:

• Global variables 
• Context variables
• Collections

 A variable is a temporary storage that can be defined and used anywhere within Power Apps. Variables are created and typed by default when they are displayed in the functions which define their values. Two types of Variables are available in PowerApps.

 Global Variables 

Set(global_variable, "Example");

• Context Variables

UpdateContext({context_variable: "Example"})

Collections are variables containing numerous rows of values. They can be viewed as arrays or tables. You may use collections in all your Power Apps.

What is the concept of delegation in PowerApps?

Ans: 

Delegation is a principle that suggests that most of the processing of data should be delegated to the data source rather than processing it locally on the app.

PowerApps Delegations: When you are working with the data sources (DataVerse, SQL, SharePoint, etc…), the data processing tasks are assigned to data sources rather than done by PowerApps itself. 

PowerApps having bunch of functions to help us in building the PowerApps application but there are only a few functions that are Delegable.

• Filter
• Search
• LookUp
• Sort
• SortByColumns
• Sum
• Average, Min, and Max functions can be delegated.

Reference: https://devoworx.net/how-to-overcome-powerapps-delegation-limit/ 

What are DLP Policies used for?

Ans: 

We can create DLP policies that can act as guardrails to help prevent unintentionally exposing organizational data. You need to be a tenant admin or have the Environment Admin role.

Reference: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/power-platform/admin/create-dlp-policy 

DLP policies ensure that data is managed in a uniform manner across your organization, and they prevent important business data from being accidentally published to connectors such as social media sites.

For more information about Reading Policies use this links: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/power-platform/admin/prevent-data-loss#find-and-view-dlp-policies 

 How can you call a flow from another flow in Power Automate?

Ans: 

You can call another Flow within a Flow by making use of the HTTP request action in the first Flow and When an HTTP request is received as a trigger of the second Flow.

https://www.enjoysharepoint.com/call-a-flow-from-another-flow-in-power-automate/ 

https://www.serverless360.com/blog/using-run-child-flow-action-to-call-nested-flows 

What is Gallery Control in PowerApps?

Ans:

 PowerApps Gallery is a type of control that can display a set of records from a data source. In the gallery, each record holds multiple types of data. Also, it can contain other controls.

Reference: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/power-apps/maker/canvas-apps/controls/control-gallery 

What is Collection?

Ans:

A Collection means a group of items or an Array. Collections can be a temporary data source when we want an in-memory store for data. The data held in a collection can be accessed from any screen in our app. This is particularly beneficial because it enables us to share data between the screens in our application.

A PowerApps Collection means it is an array that helps to store the data in PowerApps memory. Later, you can use these stored data in many way and lets see how we can create a collection in PowerApps.

• A collection can be created from the values in a SharePoint List, Excel Spreadsheet, SQL, CDS or any other data source.
• Collections only exist while an app is running. When the app is closed the data stored in a collection no longer exists.
• To create a collection, we would write:

Collect(CollectionName, items)

ClearCollect( colDemoFormula, Table( { Car: "Audi", Price: 10000 }, 

                          { Car: "BMW", Price: 200000},

                          { Car: "Benz", Price: 30000 },

                          { Car: "Jeep", Price: 60000 },

                          { Car: "Ford", Price: 20000 } )

                          

                           );

Note:

Clear Collect will remove/empty the existing loaded collection and this will make it fresh collection.

Collect will append the values into existing collection and this will create duplication of loading Data.

Reference: https://www.matthewdevaney.com/powerapps-collections-cookbook/what-is-a-collection/ 

What are the various methods for submitting data from the power apps?

Ans:

• Patch ()

Patch function in PowerApps used to create record in the data source or modify a single or multiple records without affecting other properties.

Patch(

        colDemoFormula,

        First(colDemoFormula),

        {

            Car: TextInput1.Text,

            Price: TextInput1_1

        }

    );

• Submitform ()

Submit Form function in the On Select property of a Button control to save any changes in a Form control to the data source. 

Can we use multiple data sources in one canvas app?Ans:

Yes. With Power Apps, you can create any number of connections. Once it is done, any number of data sources can be used in one app. Here I have added , SharePoint , collections , Data verse Table ,Office365,Outlook.

Describe SaveData, LoadData, and ClearData functions in Power Apps?

Ans:

Use this below screenshot to enable Save Data, Load Data  and Clear Data.

SaveData: When we are developing Canvas application with Offline Capabilities, we might have use this savedata functions many times.

 The SaveData function stores a collection for later use under a name.

SaveData( Collection, offlineName )

  

LoadData()

Reference: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/power-apps/maker/canvas-apps/functions/function-savedata-loaddata 

 What’s the difference between Lookup and Filter Functions?

Ans: 

• The LookUp function finds the first element in a table that matches a given formula. 

LookUp(colDemoFormula,Car=TextInput1_2.Text)

              LookUp can be used to locate a single record that meets one or more criteria.
Syntax:

•  The Filter function is used to identify records in a table that meet formula criteria.Filter will give the multiple matching results in Table.

Filter(colDemoFormula,Car=TextInput1_2.Text)

Syntax:

Explain the Distinct function of Power Apps?

Ans:

The Distinct function will give the results without duplicate values.

Let’s use the "Distinct" function in PowerApps to summarize records of a table, removing duplicates.

Use this below screenshot for simple Gallery without using Distinct

With Distinct Function

Distinct(colDemoFormula,Car)

Is it possible to use the canvas app in a model-driven app?

Ans:

Yes. We can use Canvas app into Model Drive App.

Go to data Verse table and Edi the Form and se the screen like below,

What is Data verse or Common Data Service?

 Ans:

•  A Dataverse database is a cloud-based unit instance that stores data in standardized structures called tables. Earlier, known as the Common Data Service (CDS), Microsoft data verse is a cloud-based database where you store and manage your data within your power Apps Environment.
• data verse is a backbone for Microsoft’s Power Platform, Office 365 and Dynamics 365 applications.
• Role-based security allows you to control access to tables for different users within your organization. Data is securely stored so that users can see it only if you grant them access.
• There are two main types of relationships.

• One-to-Many Relationships
• One-to-One Relationships
• Many-to-many Relationships

 

For More reference:

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/power-apps/maker/data-platform/data-platform-intro 

What is the difference between Collect and Create Collect?

Ans:

Clear Collect will remove/empty the existing loaded collection, and this will make it fresh collection.

Collect will append the values into existing collection and this will create duplication of loading Data.

Reference: https://www.matthewdevaney.com/powerapps-collections-cookbook/what-is-a-collection/ 

Error Handling in Canvas Apps Power Apps using IfError ?

 Ans:

To handle error and give the appropriate message ‘IfError’ and ‘isError’ functions are introduced in the Canvas App.

 Currently these functions are available in Experimental features section.

IfError(

    Patch(

        colDemoFormula,

        First(colDemoFormula),

        {

            Car: TextInput1.Text,

            Price: TextInput1_1

        }

    ),

    Notify("Some error occurred while submitting. Please try again.")

)

How to Change the Data Row Limit in Power Apps?

 Ans:

Open Power Apps Settings and check the General category, here you can increase unto 2000 from 500.

How to create a PowerApps Environment?

Ans:

Sign into the Power Platform admin center  https://admin.powerplatform.microsoft.com as an admin (Dynamics 365 admin, Global admin, or Microsoft Power Platform admin).

Click New Button,

How to Move your Apps into Different PowerApps Environment?

   Ans:

Export the package (Downloaded as a zip package) from your Lower Environment and import into new Environment,

Import Canvas App

How to Create a custom Connectors in PowerApps?

 Ans:

Custom Connectors used to access third party external API to connect their data sources.

Go to the PowerApps Home page and Click Data Verse to Expand then Click Custom Connectors

Click New Custom Connectors,

Reference links:

https://cynoteck.com/blog-post/create-custom-connectors-in-powerapps/

https://www.matthewdevaney.com/make-your-first-custom-connector-for-power-automate-and-power-apps/ 

PowerApps- How to Configure custom Security role?

Ans:

Sign in to the Power Platform admin center, and select the environment for which you want to update a security role.

Navigate into environment’s URL.

Click Advanced Settings and click settings chevron down icon 

Click security

Click security roles

 

Select the roles and change the group settings then change the entities settings

 Reference link; https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/power-platform/admin/database-security 

How to write Power Automate flow from PowerApps?

        Ans:

Go to Actions and Click Power Automate, now you can be able to connect your Flows.

 Can we pass values to flows? Is it possible to retrieve result from Power Automate?

Ans: 

Yes we can pass values/parameters to a Flow (). And it is possible to return results from Power Automate as well.

More Reference:

 https://debajmecrm.com/how-to-pass-an-array-from-powerapps-to-power-automate/ 

https://immersivecoder.com/2020/03/11/how-to-pass-field-values-from-a-canvas-app-to-power-automateflow-part-1/ 

How Do You Pass Parameters when you navigate into another screen?

Ans:

 Navigate(srnSaveDataLoadData, ScreenTransition.Fade, { Argument1: "Gowtham" , Argument2: "Rajamanickam" });

Does anyone able to create PowerApps without a license?

Ans: 

No. Users cannot create PowerApps without license.

Conclusion: 

This article has been collected the information from various internet sources and my Realtime experience then combined here. This will help you to sharpen your skills. Low-code applications are becoming increasingly popular in the current environment due to their ease of creation. PowerApps is one of the Microsoft Power Platform's four primary services, along with Power Automate, Power Virtual Agents, and Power BI.

Was my article helpful? If yes, please let me know and if not, please explain what was confusing or missing. I’ll use your feedback to double-check the facts, add info and update this article.