- A
ARRAY
ARRAY is supported for storing repeated values of a specific type.
- B
GEOMETRY
Why wrong: Spanner does not support spatial data types.
- C
TIMESTAMP
TIMESTAMP is a supported data type in Spanner.
- D
TEXT
Why wrong: Use STRING instead of TEXT.
- E
TINYINT
Why wrong: Cloud Spanner uses INT64 for integer types.
Question 279 of 1,000
Cloud Spanner Supported Data Types: ARRAY and TIMESTAMP
This PCDE practice question tests your understanding of design and implement database schemas. 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.
Which TWO data types are supported in Cloud Spanner schemas?
Quick Answer
The answer is TIMESTAMP and ARRAY, as these are two of the supported data types in Cloud Spanner schemas. Cloud Spanner, a globally distributed relational database, supports standard SQL types like INT64, FLOAT64, STRING, BOOL, BYTES, DATE, and TIMESTAMP, along with the ARRAY type for storing ordered lists of non-ARRAY elements. The GEOMETRY type is unsupported, TINYINT is not a Spanner type (use INT64 instead), and TEXT is not valid (use STRING). On the Google Professional Cloud Database Engineer exam, this question tests your familiarity with Spanner’s schema limitations, often appearing as a trap where candidates confuse Spanner with MySQL or PostgreSQL dialects. A common memory tip is to remember that Spanner avoids legacy or spatial types—stick to the core SQL standard plus ARRAY. For quick recall, think “Spanner supports TIMESTAMP for time and ARRAY for lists, but no TINYINT, GEOMETRY, or TEXT.”
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
✓
ARRAY
ARRAY is a supported data type in Cloud Spanner, allowing you to store ordered lists of elements of the same primitive type (e.g., ARRAY<STRING>, ARRAY<INT64>). This is essential for modeling one-to-many relationships without requiring separate tables, and it integrates seamlessly with Cloud Spanner's query engine for array operations.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
ARRAY
Why this is correct
ARRAY is supported for storing repeated values of a specific type.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
GEOMETRY
Why it's wrong here
Spanner does not support spatial data types.
- ✓
TIMESTAMP
Why this is correct
TIMESTAMP is a supported data type in Spanner.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
TEXT
Why it's wrong here
Use STRING instead of TEXT.
- ✗
TINYINT
Why it's wrong here
Cloud Spanner uses INT64 for integer types.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Candidates often mistakenly choose GEOMETRY or TEXT because they are common in other databases, but Cloud Spanner uses STRING for text and does not support spatial types. Also, TINYINT is not a Cloud Spanner type; use INT64 instead.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Cloud Spanner's ARRAY type is implemented as a repeated field in the underlying storage, and elements can be accessed using UNNEST to flatten arrays into rows for joins or aggregations. TIMESTAMP in Cloud Spanner stores microsecond precision and supports time zone conversion via functions like TIMESTAMP_TRUNC, making it critical for globally distributed applications where event ordering across regions must be consistent. Under the hood, Cloud Spanner uses TrueTime to assign commit timestamps with bounded clock uncertainty, ensuring linearizability.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
- Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
- Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
- Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A cloud solutions architect for a retail company is evaluating services for a new workload. The correct answer here reflects best practice for the specific scenario described — not a general cloud recommendation. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Cloud exam questions reward reading the constraint carefully: the same technology can be right or wrong depending on the use case.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this PCDE question test?
Design and implement database schemas — This question tests Design and implement database schemas — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: ARRAY — ARRAY is a supported data type in Cloud Spanner, allowing you to store ordered lists of elements of the same primitive type (e.g., ARRAY<STRING>, ARRAY<INT64>). This is essential for modeling one-to-many relationships without requiring separate tables, and it integrates seamlessly with Cloud Spanner's query engine for array operations.
What should I do if I get this PCDE question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
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