DP-900 Describe core data concepts Practice Question
A data file contains records for customer orders. Each record has fields for OrderID, CustomerID, and OrderDate that are present in every record. However, some records include an optional 'DiscountCode' field, and others include an optional 'GiftMessage' field. The file is stored in JSON format. Which type of data does this file represent?
⚠ Common exam trap
Test-takers frequently confuse 'semi-structured' with 'unstructured' because they see optional fields and think the data has no structure, but the presence of a consistent base schema (OrderID, CustomerID, OrderDate) clearly distinguishes it as semi-structured.
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
✓
Semi-structured data
The JSON file contains records with a fixed set of fields (OrderID, CustomerID, OrderDate) that are always present, but also includes optional fields (DiscountCode, GiftMessage) that may appear in some records but not others. This mix of a consistent schema with flexible, self-describing fields is the hallmark of semi-structured data. JSON itself is a semi-structured format because it uses key-value pairs and allows nested or optional attributes without requiring a rigid schema.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
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Structured data
Why it's wrong here
Structured data requires a fixed, predefined schema: every record must have the same fields and data types, typically represented as rows and columns in a relational table or CSV file. The customer orders JSON has optional fields, meaning different records can contain different keys or missing values. Because that schema flexibility breaks the strict tabular consistency required by structured data, this classification does not apply.
- ✓
Semi-structured data
Why this is correct
Semi-structured data has organizational properties such as tags, keys, or hierarchies but does not enforce a uniform schema on every record. A JSON file of customer orders fits this definition: each order is a document with key-value pairs, nested objects, and optional properties like shipping_address, while the overall set of documents can vary in shape. This is the correct structural category.
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Unstructured data
Why it's wrong here
Unstructured data has no predefined data model or internal organization; examples include free-form text, images, audio, and video, where the meaning is not machine-readable without additional processing. The customer-orders JSON is clearly organized with named keys and values, so it cannot be classified as unstructured, even though its schema is flexible.
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Transactional data
Why it's wrong here
Transactional data describes data that captures business events such as sales, orders, or payments, and it is a classification based on purpose, not on physical or logical structure. The same order records could be stored as a JSON document, a relational table, or even text, so labeling the file transactional does not answer the question of which structural data type it is.
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Data Roles and Core Concepts
Key term
Data
Data is raw, unprocessed information, like numbers, words, or measurements, that can be stored, processed, and analyzed by computers.
Key term
Semi-structured data
Semi-structured data is information that has some organizational tags or markers but does not fit into a strict table format like a spreadsheet row and column.
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