DA0-002 Data Concepts and Environments Practice Question
Which THREE characteristics describe unstructured data? (Select three.)
⚠ Common exam trap
A common mix-up: candidates confuse 'unstructured' with 'semi-structured' (e.g., JSON or XML) and incorrectly assume that SQL can process all non-tabular data, or they may forget that schema-on-read is a defining trait of unstructured data in modern big data architectures.
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
✓
Contains text, images, audio, video
Unstructured data lacks a predefined data model and is typically composed of non-tabular formats such as text, images, audio, and video. Unlike structured data, it cannot be directly stored in relational databases without transformation. This characteristic is fundamental to distinguishing unstructured data from structured or semi-structured types.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Contains text, images, audio, video
Why this is correct
Correct. Unstructured data includes multimedia and free text.
- ✗
Easily processed by standard SQL
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. SQL works best with structured data.
- ✗
Organised in rows and columns
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. This describes structured data.
- ✓
Requires schema-on-read
Why this is correct
Correct. The schema is applied when reading the data, not beforehand.
- ✓
Often stored in data lakes
Why this is correct
Correct. Data lakes commonly store unstructured data.
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