- A
Relational table – structured, JPEG – unstructured, JSON – semi-structured
Correct. Relational tables enforce a fixed schema (structured), JSON allows flexible fields (semi-structured), and JPEG files are binary blobs (unstructured).
- B
Relational table – structured, JPEG – semi-structured, JSON – unstructured
Why wrong: Incorrect. JPEG files are binary blobs without schema, making them unstructured, not semi-structured. JSON documents have structure but allow variability, making them semi-structured, not unstructured.
- C
Relational table – semi-structured, JPEG – unstructured, JSON – structured
Why wrong: Incorrect. Relational tables have a rigid schema, which is structured, not semi-structured. JSON documents are semi-structured, not structured, because their fields can vary.
- D
Relational table – unstructured, JPEG – structured, JSON – semi-structured
Why wrong: Incorrect. Relational tables are structured, not unstructured. JPEG files are unstructured, not structured.
DP-900 Describe core data concepts Practice Question
This DP-900 practice question tests your understanding of describe core data concepts. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. 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 company stores customer data in a relational table with fixed columns: CustomerID (integer), FirstName (string), LastName (string), Email (string). They also store product images as JPEG files in Azure Blob Storage, and customer feedback as JSON documents where each document may contain fields such as rating, comment, and optional metadata. Which of the following correctly classifies these data types?
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
Relational table – structured, JPEG – unstructured, JSON – semi-structured
Option A is correct because a relational table with fixed columns and data types (CustomerID, FirstName, LastName, Email) stores structured data with a rigid schema. JPEG files in Azure Blob Storage are binary blobs with no internal structure that a database can interpret, making them unstructured. JSON documents with optional fields (like rating, comment, metadata) have a flexible schema that can vary per document, which is the definition of semi-structured data.
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.
- ✓
Relational table – structured, JPEG – unstructured, JSON – semi-structured
Why this is correct
Correct. Relational tables enforce a fixed schema (structured), JSON allows flexible fields (semi-structured), and JPEG files are binary blobs (unstructured).
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Relational table – structured, JPEG – semi-structured, JSON – unstructured
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. JPEG files are binary blobs without schema, making them unstructured, not semi-structured. JSON documents have structure but allow variability, making them semi-structured, not unstructured.
- ✗
Relational table – semi-structured, JPEG – unstructured, JSON – structured
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. Relational tables have a rigid schema, which is structured, not semi-structured. JSON documents are semi-structured, not structured, because their fields can vary.
- ✗
Relational table – unstructured, JPEG – structured, JSON – semi-structured
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. Relational tables are structured, not unstructured. JPEG files are unstructured, not structured.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse 'semi-structured' with 'unstructured' because JSON looks like free-form text, but its key-value structure with optional fields makes it semi-structured, not unstructured.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, structured data relies on a fixed schema enforced by the database engine (e.g., SQL Server's table definition), while semi-structured data like JSON uses self-describing tags (e.g., key-value pairs) that can be validated with JSON Schema but allow optional fields. In Azure, Blob Storage treats JPEG files as opaque byte streams (Content-Type: image/jpeg), whereas JSON documents can be queried using OPENJSON or Cosmos DB's indexing, highlighting the practical difference in how each data type is processed.
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 media company stores terabytes of video archives that are accessed once a year for audit purposes. Moving these objects to a cold storage tier (Azure Archive, S3 Glacier, or Google Nearline) costs a fraction of hot storage. Questions like this test whether you understand storage tiers, access frequency tradeoffs, and retrieval latency requirements.
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: Relational table – structured, JPEG – unstructured, JSON – semi-structured — Option A is correct because a relational table with fixed columns and data types (CustomerID, FirstName, LastName, Email) stores structured data with a rigid schema. JPEG files in Azure Blob Storage are binary blobs with no internal structure that a database can interpret, making them unstructured. JSON documents with optional fields (like rating, comment, metadata) have a flexible schema that can vary per document, which is the definition of semi-structured data.
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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