- A
Consistency
Why wrong: Consistency ensures that a transaction brings the database from one valid state to another, adhering to all defined rules, but it does not guarantee the all-or-nothing outcome described.
- B
Isolation
Why wrong: Isolation ensures that concurrently executing transactions do not interfere with each other, but it does not address the need for the entire transaction to be rolled back on failure.
- C
Durability
Why wrong: Durability guarantees that once a transaction is committed, its changes persist even in the event of a system failure. It does not enforce the all-or-nothing behavior during the transaction.
- D
Atomicity
Atomicity ensures that a transaction is an indivisible unit of work. If any part fails, the entire transaction is rolled back, leaving the data unchanged, perfectly matching the described scenario.
DP-900 Describe core data concepts Practice Question
This DP-900 practice question tests your understanding of describe core data concepts. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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 bank processes a fund transfer that involves deducting money from one account and crediting it to another. The system ensures that both operations succeed together or, if any part fails, the entire transaction is rolled back, leaving both accounts unchanged. Which ACID property does this scenario primarily guarantee?
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
Atomicity
Atomicity ensures that a transaction is treated as a single, indivisible unit of work. In this fund transfer scenario, both the debit and credit operations must complete successfully, or the entire transaction is rolled back, leaving the accounts unchanged. This all-or-nothing behavior is the defining characteristic of atomicity in ACID transactions.
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.
- ✗
Consistency
Why it's wrong here
Consistency ensures that a transaction brings the database from one valid state to another, adhering to all defined rules, but it does not guarantee the all-or-nothing outcome described.
- ✗
Isolation
Why it's wrong here
Isolation ensures that concurrently executing transactions do not interfere with each other, but it does not address the need for the entire transaction to be rolled back on failure.
- ✗
Durability
Why it's wrong here
Durability guarantees that once a transaction is committed, its changes persist even in the event of a system failure. It does not enforce the all-or-nothing behavior during the transaction.
- ✓
Atomicity
Why this is correct
Atomicity ensures that a transaction is an indivisible unit of work. If any part fails, the entire transaction is rolled back, leaving the data unchanged, perfectly matching the described scenario.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse atomicity with consistency, mistakenly thinking that maintaining the total balance (consistency) is the same as the all-or-nothing execution of the transaction, but atomicity specifically focuses on the indivisibility of the transaction steps.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, atomicity is typically implemented using a write-ahead log (WAL) or transaction log, where all changes are first recorded before being applied. If a failure occurs mid-transaction, the database uses the log to undo (roll back) any partial changes, restoring the original state. In SQL Server, for example, the BEGIN TRANSACTION and COMMIT/ROLLBACK statements explicitly enforce atomicity, and the transaction log tracks every modification to ensure a clean rollback if needed.
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.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this DP-900 question test?
Describe core data concepts — This question tests Describe core data concepts — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Atomicity — Atomicity ensures that a transaction is treated as a single, indivisible unit of work. In this fund transfer scenario, both the debit and credit operations must complete successfully, or the entire transaction is rolled back, leaving the accounts unchanged. This all-or-nothing behavior is the defining characteristic of atomicity in ACID transactions.
What should I do if I get this DP-900 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: Jun 11, 2026
This DP-900 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Microsoft 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 DP-900 exam.
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