Final answer:
The default message retention period for queue services like AWS SQS is not 14 days but 4 days, although it can be configured to be up to 14 days based on application requirements.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement, 'By default, a queue retains messages for 14 days,' is false. The default message retention period for most queue services, such as AWS SQS (Amazon Web Services Simple Queue Service), is 4 days. However, this default duration can be configured to be as short as a few minutes to as long as 14 days. It's important to set the message retention period based on the requirements of the application using the queue. For instance, if the processing of messages can be delayed, then a longer retention period would be beneficial. Conversely, for more time-sensitive applications, a shorter retention period might be more appropriate to ensure timely processing of the messages.