FC0-U71 Data and Database Fundamentals Practice Question
Which TWO of the following are examples of NoSQL database types?
⚠ Common exam trap
FC0-U71 often tests whether candidates can distinguish NoSQL database TYPES from generic data storage formats — spreadsheets and flat files are storage formats, not NoSQL categories, and relational databases are the opposite of NoSQL.
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
✓
Document store
A document store (D) is a NoSQL database type that stores semi-structured data as JSON-like documents (e.g., MongoDB, CouchDB), allowing flexible, schema-less records. A key-value store (E) is also a NoSQL type that maps unique keys to values for fast lookups (e.g., Redis, DynamoDB), which is a core category of NoSQL databases. Spreadsheets (A) are productivity tools, not database types, and lack the querying and scaling characteristics of databases. A relational database (B) is the SQL model using tables, rows, and columns with fixed schemas, so it is not NoSQL. A flat file (C) is a simple file format for storing data, not a NoSQL database category.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Spreadsheet
Why it's wrong here
A spreadsheet is a tabular file format, not a NoSQL database category. It is tempting because it stores rows and columns without a fixed schema, but NoSQL types are key-value, document, column-family and graph stores; a spreadsheet lacks the distributed query and storage engine those provide.
- ✗
Relational database
Why it's wrong here
Relational databases store data in tables with fixed schemas and enforce ACID transactions through SQL, which is the defining characteristic NoSQL types deliberately avoid. It is tempting because relational engines remain the default for structured, transactional workloads, and would be correct where strict schema integrity and joins are required rather than horizontal scale-out.
- ✗
Flat file
Why it's wrong here
A flat file is a single plain-text or delimited data file, not a NoSQL database type. It is tempting because it holds unstructured records without a relational schema, but NoSQL types are key-value, document, column-family and graph stores; a flat file offers no indexing, replication or query engine.
- ✓
Document store
Why this is correct
Document stores hold semi-structured data as JSON-like documents, each with its own schema, and are a recognised NoSQL category alongside key-value, column-family and graph stores. This satisfies the stem's requirement for a NoSQL database type.
- ✓
Key-value store
Why this is correct
Key-value stores hold data as unique keys mapped to opaque values, with no fixed schema or relational joins. This is one of the four canonical NoSQL categories, alongside document, column-family and graph stores, so it directly satisfies the question's requirement for a NoSQL database type.
Go deeper
Related to this question
About these practice questions
Courseiva writes every FC0-U71 question from scratch — 988 in total, each with an explanation and a wrong-answer breakdown. None are copied from real exams or dumps. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
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
This FC0-U71 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-U71 exam.