- A
Both patient records and radiology images are structured data.
Why wrong: Radiology images are binary files that do not have a predefined schema, so they are unstructured, not structured.
- B
Patient records are semi-structured, and radiology images are unstructured.
Why wrong: Patient records in a relational table adhere to a strict schema, making them structured, not semi-structured. Semi-structured data (e.g., JSON) has some organizational properties but flexible schema.
- C
Patient records are structured, and radiology images are unstructured.
Patient records have fixed columns and data types (structured), while DICOM files are binary with no queryable schema (unstructured).
- D
Patient records are unstructured, and radiology images are semi-structured.
Why wrong: Patient records are structured due to the rigid schema, and radiology images are unstructured, not semi-structured.
Quick Answer
The answer is that patient records are structured data and radiology images are unstructured data. This classification hinges on the presence of a predefined schema: the relational database enforces fixed columns like PatientID, Name, and DateOfBirth, which fit neatly into rows and columns, while DICOM files in Azure Blob Storage lack any tabular format or enforced schema, making them unstructured. On the Microsoft Azure Data Fundamentals DP-900 exam, this distinction tests your ability to map real-world Azure examples—like SQL databases versus Blob Storage—to data type categories. A common trap is confusing semi-structured data (e.g., JSON) with unstructured data; remember that any file without a row-and-column structure, such as images, videos, or documents, is unstructured. For a quick memory tip: think of structured data as a neatly labeled filing cabinet (rows and columns), and unstructured data as a pile of loose photos in a box.
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 healthcare organization stores patient medical records in a relational database with columns such as PatientID, Name, and DateOfBirth. They also store radiology images as DICOM files in Azure Blob Storage. Which statement 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
Patient records are structured, and radiology images are unstructured.
Patient records in a relational database with fixed columns like PatientID, Name, and DateOfBirth adhere to a predefined schema, making them structured data. Radiology images stored as DICOM files in Azure Blob Storage have no internal schema or tabular format and are therefore unstructured data. Option C correctly matches these classifications.
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.
- ✗
Both patient records and radiology images are structured data.
Why it's wrong here
Radiology images are binary files that do not have a predefined schema, so they are unstructured, not structured.
- ✗
Patient records are semi-structured, and radiology images are unstructured.
Why it's wrong here
Patient records in a relational table adhere to a strict schema, making them structured, not semi-structured. Semi-structured data (e.g., JSON) has some organizational properties but flexible schema.
- ✓
Patient records are structured, and radiology images are unstructured.
Why this is correct
Patient records have fixed columns and data types (structured), while DICOM files are binary with no queryable schema (unstructured).
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Patient records are unstructured, and radiology images are semi-structured.
Why it's wrong here
Patient records are structured due to the rigid schema, and radiology images are unstructured, not semi-structured.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is conflating 'semi-structured' with 'structured' or 'unstructured'—candidates often misclassify relational database records as semi-structured because they have multiple columns, but the key is the rigid schema enforced by the relational model.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Structured data relies on a fixed schema enforced by the database management system (e.g., SQL Server), ensuring ACID compliance for transactional queries. Unstructured data like DICOM images lacks a predefined data model and is typically stored in object storage (Azure Blob) with metadata tags for indexing. In healthcare, this distinction matters for compliance: structured data supports precise querying for analytics, while unstructured images require specialized viewers and AI models for interpretation.
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.
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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: Patient records are structured, and radiology images are unstructured. — Patient records in a relational database with fixed columns like PatientID, Name, and DateOfBirth adhere to a predefined schema, making them structured data. Radiology images stored as DICOM files in Azure Blob Storage have no internal schema or tabular format and are therefore unstructured data. Option C correctly matches these classifications.
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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Same concept, more angles
3 more ways this is tested on DP-900
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. A healthcare organization stores patient records in a relational database table with fixed columns for PatientID, Name, and DateOfBirth. Additionally, they store clinical notes as free-form text files for each patient visit. Which statement correctly classifies these data types?
easy- A.Both patient records and clinical notes are examples of unstructured data.
- ✓ B.Patient records are structured data, and clinical notes are unstructured data.
- C.Both patient records and clinical notes are examples of structured data.
- D.Patient records are unstructured data, and clinical notes are semi-structured data.
Why B: Patient records stored in a relational database table with fixed columns (PatientID, Name, DateOfBirth) conform to a predefined schema, making them structured data. Clinical notes stored as free-form text files lack a fixed schema or organization, which classifies them as unstructured data. Option B correctly identifies this distinction.
Variation 2. A hospital stores patient records. Each record includes a PatientID (integer), Name (text), DateOfBirth (date), and MRI scan images (binary files). Which classification best describes the MRI scan images?
easy- A.Structured data
- B.Semi-structured data
- ✓ C.Unstructured data
- D.Streaming data
Why C: MRI scan images are binary files that lack a predefined data model or schema, making them unstructured data. Unlike structured data (e.g., rows in a SQL table) or semi-structured data (e.g., JSON with tags), binary image files cannot be easily queried or organized using traditional relational database tools without additional processing.
Variation 3. A hospital system stores patient medical records. Each record includes structured data like patient ID, name, date of birth, and also includes unstructured data like doctor's notes and X-ray images. Which type of data is the doctor's notes?
easy- A.A. Structured data
- B.B. Semi-structured data
- ✓ C.C. Unstructured data
- D.D. Relational data
Why C: Doctor's notes are unstructured data because they consist of free-form text that does not follow a predefined data model or schema. Unlike structured data (e.g., patient ID, name) which fits neatly into rows and columns, doctor's notes lack a fixed format and cannot be easily queried using traditional relational database tools without additional processing.
Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
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