- A
Create secondary indexes on frequently queried columns.
Why wrong: Secondary indexes affect reads, not write distribution.
- B
Avoid using a monotonically increasing primary key.
Monotonically increasing keys cause hotspotting.
- C
Store all data in a single table with no interleaving.
Why wrong: Interleaving or not does not avoid hotspots.
- D
Use foreign keys to enforce referential integrity.
Why wrong: Foreign keys do not influence write distribution.
- E
Add a hash prefix to the primary key to distribute writes.
Salting prevents hotspotting.
Question 870 of 1,000
PCDOE Design and Plan Database Solutions Practice Question
This PCDOE practice question tests your understanding of design and plan database solutions. 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 retail company is designing a new inventory management system on Cloud Spanner. They need to ensure high write throughput for order processing. Which two schema design practices help avoid write hotspots? (Choose TWO.)
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
✓
Avoid using a monotonically increasing primary key.
Option B is correct because monotonically increasing primary keys (e.g., auto-increment integers or timestamps) cause all new writes to be directed to the same tablet server, creating a hot spot. Cloud Spanner splits data by key range, so sequential keys concentrate load on a single split. Option E is correct because adding a hash prefix to the primary key distributes writes uniformly across splits, preventing any single node from becoming a bottleneck.
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.
- ✗
Create secondary indexes on frequently queried columns.
Why it's wrong here
Secondary indexes affect reads, not write distribution.
- ✓
Avoid using a monotonically increasing primary key.
Why this is correct
Monotonically increasing keys cause hotspotting.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Store all data in a single table with no interleaving.
Why it's wrong here
Interleaving or not does not avoid hotspots.
- ✗
Use foreign keys to enforce referential integrity.
Why it's wrong here
Foreign keys do not influence write distribution.
- ✓
Add a hash prefix to the primary key to distribute writes.
Why this is correct
Salting prevents hotspotting.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Candidates often mistakenly think that secondary indexes or foreign keys improve write throughput in Cloud Spanner, but these features only assist reads or data integrity, not write distribution. The key is to avoid monotonically increasing primary keys and use hash prefixes to distribute writes.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Cloud Spanner uses a distributed storage layer where data is partitioned into splits based on primary key ranges. A monotonically increasing key causes all new rows to be inserted into the last split, overloading that split's tablet server. Hash-prefixing (e.g., using a hash of the order ID as the leading key column) spreads inserts across all splits, enabling linear scaling of write throughput. Spanner's split management automatically balances load, but the key design must avoid sequential patterns to leverage this.
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 startup's cloud architect reviews their monthly bill and notices costs are higher than expected for a long-running batch job. Switching from on-demand instances to Reserved Instances — or using Spot/Preemptible VMs — can reduce compute costs by up to 72 %. Questions like this test whether you understand the tradeoffs between commitment, flexibility, and cost across cloud pricing models.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this PCDOE question test?
Design and Plan Database Solutions — This question tests Design and Plan Database Solutions — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Avoid using a monotonically increasing primary key. — Option B is correct because monotonically increasing primary keys (e.g., auto-increment integers or timestamps) cause all new writes to be directed to the same tablet server, creating a hot spot. Cloud Spanner splits data by key range, so sequential keys concentrate load on a single split. Option E is correct because adding a hash prefix to the primary key distributes writes uniformly across splits, preventing any single node from becoming a bottleneck.
What should I do if I get this PCDOE 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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