Databricks-DA-Assoc Executing Queries with Databricks SQL Practice Question
Which Databricks SQL feature should an analyst use to view the execution plan and understand the data flow, including the number of rows processed and the time taken at each stage of a query?
⚠ Common exam trap
Candidates frequently confuse the Query Profile with the SQL Warehouse logs or the cluster event logs, failing to identify the specific UI tool designed for visual query execution analysis.
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
✓
The Query Profile UI
The Query Profile (or Query History UI) in Databricks SQL is the standard tool for monitoring and tuning queries. It provides a visual representation of the execution DAG (Directed Acyclic Graph), showing details like row counts, time spent in each operation, and potential bottlenecks, which is crucial for identifying why a specific query might be slow or inefficient.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
The DESCRIBE DETAIL command
Why it's wrong here
DESCRIBE DETAIL provides metadata about a Delta table, such as the table location, format, and creation time. It does not provide information about query execution plans, performance metrics, or the internal steps taken during a SQL query execution, making it unsuitable for performance analysis.
- ✓
The Query Profile UI
Why this is correct
The Query Profile UI is designed exactly for this purpose. It visualizes the execution plan, displaying metrics like row counts per operator, duration of stages, and memory usage. It allows analysts to pinpoint bottlenecks in their SQL queries and optimize them effectively using the provided detailed insights.
- ✗
The SHOW TABLES command
Why it's wrong here
SHOW TABLES simply lists the tables available within a specific schema or catalog. It provides no information regarding the data content, structure, or the performance characteristics of queries run against those tables, and certainly not the execution plans required for advanced analytical performance tuning.
- ✗
The EXPLAIN command in a notebook
Why it's wrong here
While EXPLAIN provides the logical and physical plan of a query, it is text-based and does not show dynamic runtime metrics like actual row counts or time spent in each stage. The Query Profile UI is the preferred tool for runtime performance analysis in Databricks SQL.
About these practice questions
Courseiva writes every Databricks-DA-Assoc question from scratch — 291 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 Databricks exam blueprint
This Databricks-DA-Assoc practice question is part of Courseiva's free Databricks 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 Databricks-DA-Assoc exam.