This FC0-U61 practice question tests your understanding of database fundamentals. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A database administrator adds an index on the 'Email' column of a 'Users' table. What is a likely consequence?
Reduced storage space
Why wrong: Indexes consume additional disk space.
Improved query performance for all queries
Why wrong: Only queries that use the indexed column benefit.
Slower update operations on the table
Index maintenance adds overhead to INSERT/UPDATE/DELETE.
Faster inserts on the table
Why wrong: Inserts become slower due to index update.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Slower update operations on the table
Adding an index on the 'Email' column improves the speed of SELECT queries that filter or sort by that column, but it introduces overhead on write operations. Every time a row is inserted, updated, or deleted, the database must also update the index structure (e.g., a B-tree). This additional work makes UPDATE operations slower, which is why option C is correct.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Reduced storage space
Why it's wrong here
Indexes consume additional disk space.
Improved query performance for all queries
Why it's wrong here
Only queries that use the indexed column benefit.
Slower update operations on the table
Why this is correct
Index maintenance adds overhead to INSERT/UPDATE/DELETE.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Faster inserts on the table
Why it's wrong here
Inserts become slower due to index update.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates assume indexes universally speed up all database operations, ignoring the write-performance penalty that occurs because the index must be maintained on every INSERT, UPDATE, and DELETE.
Detailed technical explanation
Under the hood, a B-tree index on the 'Email' column stores sorted key values and pointers to the corresponding rows. When an UPDATE modifies the 'Email' value, the database must delete the old index entry and insert a new one, which involves traversing the tree and potentially rebalancing nodes. In a real-world scenario, a high-write table (e.g., a user activity log) with many indexes can experience significant write latency, making index tuning a trade-off between read performance and write overhead.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A practitioner preparing for the FC0-U61 exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
What to study next
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FAQ
Database Fundamentals — This question tests Database Fundamentals — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Slower update operations on the table — Adding an index on the 'Email' column improves the speed of SELECT queries that filter or sort by that column, but it introduces overhead on write operations. Every time a row is inserted, updated, or deleted, the database must also update the index structure (e.g., a B-tree). This additional work makes UPDATE operations slower, which is why option C is correct.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 25, 2026
This FC0-U61 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 FC0-U61 exam.
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