DP-900 Describe core data concepts Practice Question
A company stores customer data in a SQL Server database table with columns: CustomerID (integer), Name (varchar), Email (varchar), SignupDate (date). All rows adhere to this schema. Which type of data does this represent?
⚠ Common exam trap
It's easy for candidates to confuse the content of the data (e.g., customer information) with its structure, or mistakenly think that any data in a database is automatically structured, ignoring the distinction between structured, semi-structured, and unstructured formats.
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
✓
Structured data
This data is structured because it conforms to a fixed schema with clearly defined columns (CustomerID, Name, Email, SignupDate) and data types (integer, varchar, date). In SQL Server, structured data is stored in tables with rows and columns, enabling efficient querying via T-SQL and indexing. The consistent adherence to the schema across all rows is the hallmark of structured data.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Structured data
Why this is correct
Structured data conforms to a rigid, predefined schema, typically organized into rows and columns. In a SQL Server database, the customer table enforces data types, constraints, and relationships, enabling efficient querying via SQL. This fixed tabular format is the hallmark of structured data.
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Unstructured data
Why it's wrong here
Unstructured data lacks a predefined data model or schema, making it difficult to query without additional processing. Examples include images, audio, video, and free-form text documents. Customer records stored in a SQL table have an explicit structure, so they are not unstructured.
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Semi-structured data
Why it's wrong here
Semi-structured data has some organizational properties, such as tags or key-value pairs, but does not enforce a rigid schema across all records. Formats like JSON and XML allow nested, variable fields, whereas a SQL Server customer table has a fixed schema with consistent columns and data types. Therefore, this data is not semi-structured.
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Transactional data
Why it's wrong here
Transactional data describes data that records business events, such as sales orders or financial transactions, and is usually processed in Online Transaction Processing (OLTP) systems. The question asks about the classification based on data structure, not its business purpose. While the customer table might support transactions, its structural type is still structured data, making 'transactional data' incorrect.
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Related to this question
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Data Roles and Core Concepts
Key term
Structured data
Structured data is information that is organized in a predefined format, typically in rows and columns, making it easy to search, process, and analyze by computers.
Key term
Data
Data is raw, unprocessed information, like numbers, words, or measurements, that can be stored, processed, and analyzed by computers.
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