FC0-U71 Data and Database Fundamentals Practice Question
A company stores customer data in a flat file. Which of the following is a disadvantage of using a flat file compared to a relational database?
⚠ Common exam trap
Watch out — candidates often confuse 'simple' with 'limited' — candidates assume flat files are slow or lack features, but the exam is testing the specific concurrency limitation that only an RDBMS solves.
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
✓
Flat files do not support concurrent multi-user access
Flat files store data as a single sequential stream of records with no built-in locking, transaction manager, or record-level access control, so two users writing at the same time can overwrite each other's changes or corrupt the file. A relational database management system (RDBMS) provides concurrency control through locking, MVCC, and transactions, allowing many users to read and write safely. This makes concurrent multi-user access the classic disadvantage of flat files.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Flat files are slower for sequential reads
Why it's wrong here
Sequential reads are a flat file's strength: scanning one contiguous file is fast, and the disadvantage lies in random access and concurrent updates. It is tempting because flat files do lack indexing, but that affects selective lookups, not sequential throughput.
- ✗
Flat files support complex queries
Why it's wrong here
Flat files do not support complex queries; joins, projections and aggregation require a relational engine or query language. It is tempting because flat files can be filtered with scripts, but that is not the declarative multi-table querying a relational database provides.
- ✓
Flat files do not support concurrent multi-user access
Why this is correct
Flat files lack a database engine to manage row-level locking and transaction isolation, so simultaneous writes from multiple users risk overwriting each other's changes. A relational database enforces concurrency control, which this scenario's multi-user access constraint requires.
- ✗
Flat files enforce referential integrity
Why it's wrong here
Flat files cannot enforce referential integrity at all; that constraint is provided by relational primary and foreign keys. The option inverts reality, which is tempting because referential integrity is a genuine flat-file weakness, so a careless reader may accept the statement without checking its direction.
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Same concept, more angles
2 more ways this is tested on FC0-U71
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. Which of the following is a benefit of using a database instead of a flat file?
easy- A.Simpler setup and configuration
- B.Faster file transfer speeds
- C.Lower storage requirements
- ✓ D.Support for concurrent multi-user access
Why D: Databases provide concurrent access control, allowing multiple users to read/write data simultaneously without corruption.
Variation 2. Which of the following is a primary advantage of using a database instead of a flat file system?
easy- ✓ A.Supports concurrent multi-user access with data integrity
- B.No need for data validation
- C.Data is stored in a single file for easy backup
- D.Simpler to set up and maintain
Why A: A database management system (DBMS) provides concurrent multi-user access with mechanisms like locking, transactions, and ACID properties to maintain data integrity. This is a primary advantage over flat file systems, which lack built-in concurrency control and integrity enforcement, leading to data corruption or inconsistency when multiple users access the same file.
JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official CompTIA exam blueprint
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