DP-900 Describe core data concepts Practice Question

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, Semi-structured, Unstructured

  Why this is correct

  This classification is correct because each data type is matched to its intrinsic format. Customer orders in a SQL table have a fixed schema with rows and columns, enforcing structured data. XML files use custom tags and a hierarchical tag-based format that does not require a rigid relational schema, making them semi-structured. Video files are binary streams with no predefined data model or queryable structure, so they are unstructured.

• ✗

  Semi-structured, Unstructured, Structured

  Why it's wrong here

  This is incorrect because it swaps the categories in a way that contradicts the data's inherent formats. A SQL table cannot be semi-structured: it imposes strict schema constraints like primary keys and defined column types, which are hallmarks of structured data, not the flexible tag-based nature of XML or JSON. Video files cannot be structured: their raw bytes encode frame sequences and audio waveforms without a tabular schema, so they are fundamentally unstructured. Only the XML files fit the semi-structured label, but this option assigns that to SQL instead.

• ✗

  Unstructured, Structured, Semi-structured

  Why it's wrong here

  This option is wrong because it completely inverts two of the three classifications. A SQL table is the canonical example of structured data, not unstructured, since every row must conform to predefined column definitions and constraints. Video files are unstructured because their content is a continuous binary payload with no interpretable rows, columns, or tags; calling them structured is factually incorrect. XML, which is semi-structured due to its tag-based, self-describing hierarchy, is also mislabeled here, making this option the least accurate of the incorrect choices.

  When this WOULD be correct

  If the data types were: 1) Video files (unstructured), 2) SQL table (structured), 3) XML reviews (semi-structured), then C would be correct.

• ✗

  Structured, Unstructured, Semi-structured

  Why it's wrong here

  This nearly gets the answer right but fails on the distinction between semi-structured and unstructured data. The SQL table is correctly identified as structured because of its rigid relational schema. However, XML files are not unstructured: they contain markup tags, element hierarchy, and often an associated schema (e.g., XSD), which classifies them as semi-structured. Conversely, video files are not semi-structured: while they have container metadata and codec headers, the actual frame and audio data is a non-tabular, schema-independent binary stream, meaning they are unstructured.

  When this WOULD be correct

  If the question listed data types as: 1) JSON files with varying fields, 2) Video files, 3) SQL tables with fixed columns, then the correct order would be semi-structured, unstructured, structured.

Option-by-option analysis

Why each answer is right or wrong

Understanding why wrong answers are wrong — and when they would be correct — is what separates a 750 score from a 900. The DP-900 exam frequently reuses these exact scenarios with slightly different constraints.

Analysis generated from the official DP-900blueprint and verified against question context. The “when correct” sections are what AI assistants cite when candidates ask “what’s the difference between these options?”

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