DP-900 Describe core data concepts Practice Question
This DP-900 practice question tests your understanding of describe core data concepts. 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 company stores customer data in three formats: a relational table with fixed columns for CustomerID, Name, and Email; product reviews stored as JSON documents with varying fields such as rating and comment; and product demonstration videos in MP4 format. Which of the following correctly lists these data types from most structured to least structured?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "least"
Why it matters: You want the option with minimum overhead, fewest steps, or lowest impact — not the most feature-rich or comprehensive answer.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Relational table, JSON documents, MP4 videos
Option C is correct because data structuredness is determined by schema rigidity. A relational table has a fixed schema with predefined columns (CustomerID, Name, Email), making it the most structured. JSON documents have a flexible schema where fields like rating and comment can vary per document, placing them in the semi-structured category. MP4 videos are unstructured binary data with no inherent schema, making them the least structured.
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, MP4 videos, JSON documents
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. MP4 videos are unstructured, which is less structured than JSON documents (semi-structured).
✗
JSON documents, relational table, MP4 videos
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. A relational table is more structured than JSON documents because it has a fixed schema.
✓
Relational table, JSON documents, MP4 videos
Why this is correct
Correct. This order correctly ranks structured (relational), semi-structured (JSON), and unstructured (MP4) data.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "least" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
MP4 videos, JSON documents, relational table
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. The order is reversed; MP4 videos are the least structured.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Microsoft often tests the misconception that JSON is unstructured because it lacks a fixed schema, but JSON is actually semi-structured due to its self-describing key-value pairs, while binary formats like MP4 are truly unstructured.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Structured data relies on a predefined schema (e.g., SQL table with columns and data types), enabling efficient indexing and ACID transactions. Semi-structured data like JSON uses self-describing tags but lacks a fixed schema, requiring parsing (e.g., JSON_VALUE in T-SQL) for querying. Unstructured data such as MP4 video is stored as a binary large object (BLOB) and requires specialized processing (e.g., Azure Video Indexer) to extract metadata, making it the least queryable without additional tooling.
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.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this DP-900 question in full detail.
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, JSON documents, MP4 videos — Option C is correct because data structuredness is determined by schema rigidity. A relational table has a fixed schema with predefined columns (CustomerID, Name, Email), making it the most structured. JSON documents have a flexible schema where fields like rating and comment can vary per document, placing them in the semi-structured category. MP4 videos are unstructured binary data with no inherent schema, making them the least structured.
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "least". You want the option with minimum overhead, fewest steps, or lowest impact — not the most feature-rich or comprehensive answer.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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