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If the caster attempts a spell, and fails due to armor, do they automatically know that they failed? And More so, do they automatically know that it was the armor that caused the failure?
With most castings, it would be obvious, but for some spells, it may be more murky, just wondering if the spell failing is known to the caster for roleplaying purposes. Plus if they failed for a reason like an anti-magic field, would they know that it was the armor and not the field, that caused the failure?
Without actually looking anything up I'd say yes they know. Arcane Spell Failure is caused because your armour is too clunky and restrictive, so you don't have the agility to perform the precise movements required to cast a spell ("Still Spell" let's a wizard cast 8th level spells in full plate). LINK
With that in mind I think it'd be fairly obvious that you screwed up because your armour was in the way - similar to failing a concentration check when someone attacks you.
Having said all of that, I can't think of any specific text that directly supports my claim, that's just how I interpret things.
Likewise, if a creature’s saving throw succeeds against a targeted spell, you sense that the spell has failed.
Based on this, yes you should be aware that your spell has failed. It wouldn't make much sense for you to be aware that a spell failed due to a save but not due to Spell Resistance or an Anti-Magic Field.
Now, knowing why it failed is another matter.
Regarding spell failure, yes they would absolutely know why since the spell failed to even be cast. Spell Failure interrupts the spell entirely.
If you ever try to cast a spell in conditions where the
characteristics of the spell cannot be made to conform, the casting fails and the spell is wasted.
Spells also fail if your concentration is broken and might fail if you’re wearing armor while casting a spell with somatic components.
The casting fails, as in, is not cast.
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Here's another one.
The spell Phantom Trap automatically fails if another Phantom Trap is active within 50ft. Not another one you cast within 50ft, but any casting of that spell. So, if you know why the spell is failing it would be a bigger boon than just knowing that the spell failed, since it means that a nearby trap isn't what it seems.
Does the caster know why the spell failed?
For example, If I'm wearing padded cloth armor and I cast phantom trap, do I know if it's the arcane spell failure or the presence of another phantom trap (or something else) which caused the spell to fail?
Murdock, you absolutely know if you failed to cast your spell because your armor got in your way.
You might as well be asking 'do I know that I failed to cast the spell because I was grappled'? Yes, you know.
Now, with that said, no you don't necessarily know that Phantom Trap fails because of another Phantom Trap unless there is text that states that there is or the GM rules that you do due to whatever reason.
The game assumes you know. Otherwise it's hard to explain how casters don't know not to wear armor, and they wouldn't know to train to be better at passing spell resistance checks. Now with the Phantom spell they might not know since it's a spell and you need to make checks to identify spell effects.