Question 509 of 986
DA0-002 Data Acquisition and Preparation Practice Question
A company is merging two databases from different departments. In Database A, customer IDs are integers. In Database B, customer IDs are alphanumeric strings. To merge, the data analyst must reconcile these differences. Which step should be taken first?
⚠ Common exam trap
Many candidates assume immediate conversion (Option B) is the simplest solution, but the exam tests the principle that data profiling must precede any transformation to avoid irreversible data corruption.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Perform data profiling to understand the ID formats and relationships
Data profiling is the essential first step before any transformation or mapping. It allows the analyst to examine the actual formats, patterns, and relationships in both ID columns (e.g., whether Database B's alphanumeric IDs contain embedded numeric sequences or consistent prefixes). Without profiling, any conversion or mapping would be based on assumptions that could lead to data loss or incorrect merges.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Drop the ID column and use a surrogate key
Why it's wrong here
Dropping data prematurely could lose important relationships.
- ✗
Convert all IDs to integers using CAST
Why it's wrong here
Alphanumeric IDs may not be convertible to integers without loss.
- ✓
Perform data profiling to understand the ID formats and relationships
Why this is correct
Profiling helps determine the best strategy for reconciliation.
- ✗
Create a mapping table based on the first character
Why it's wrong here
This approach is arbitrary and may not preserve relationships.
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
This DA0-002 practice question is part of Courseiva's free CompTIA certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the DA0-002 exam.
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