NVIDIA NCP-OUSD Exam - Topic 3 Question 1 Discussion

Option A is the correct USDA pattern because a payload is authored as prim metadata using the singular payload keyword with a list-editing operation such as prepend. NVIDIA's Learn OpenUSD payload exercise shows the canonical USDA form: prepend payload = @./red_cube.usd@, authored on the prim declaration. It further explains that payloads are similar to references in USDA, with the important distinction that the keyword is payload rather than references.

The key technical purpose of a payload is deferred loading. NVIDIA explains that payloads can compose scene description when loaded, or unload the targeted scene description beneath the payloaded prim. It also contrasts this with references, which are always composed and present on the stage, while payloads can be opened unloaded and selectively loaded later.

Option B is incorrect because payloads is not the USDA keyword and it is not authored as a property inside the prim body. Option C uses a reference, not a payload, so it does not provide payload load/unload behavior. Option D is not the canonical list-op form expected here. This aligns with Composition Reference and Payloads Working With Payloads.