easymultiple choiceObjective-mapped

A logistics company collects data from fleet sensors. Each sensor sends a JSON message containing the vehicle ID, timestamp, and a variable set of measurements such as engine temperature, tire pressure, and fuel level. The structure of the JSON message differs between sensor types and sometimes includes optional fields. How should this data be classified?

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A logistics company collects data from fleet sensors. Each sensor sends a JSON message containing the vehicle ID, timestamp, and a variable set of measurements such as engine temperature, tire pressure, and fuel level. The structure of the JSON message differs between sensor types and sometimes includes optional fields. How should this data be classified?

Answer choices

Why each option matters

Good practice is not just finding the correct option. The wrong answers often show the exact trap the exam wants you to fall into.

A

Distractor review

Structured data

Structured data requires a fixed schema with consistent fields. The JSON messages here have varying fields, so this is incorrect.

B

Best answer

Semi-structured data

Correct. JSON data with optional fields and varying structure is a classic example of semi-structured data, which uses tags or keys to organize data without a rigid schema.

C

Distractor review

Unstructured data

Unstructured data has no identifiable structure (e.g., video, audio). The JSON messages have some organization, so they are not unstructured.

D

Distractor review

Relational data

Relational data is structured into tables with predefined schemas. The flexible nature of JSON does not fit the relational model.

Common exam trap

Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword

Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.

Technical deep dive

How to think about this question

This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.

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.
  • Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.

TExam Day Tips

  • Underline the problem statement mentally.
  • 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.

Related practice questions

Related DP-900 practice-question pages

Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.

More questions from this exam

Keep practising from the same exam bank, or move into a focused topic page if this question exposed a weak area.

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Question 2

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Question 3

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Question 4

A data engineer is designing a data lake architecture in Azure. They plan to first ingest raw data from various sources into a landing zone in Azure Data Lake Storage Gen2. Then they will clean, validate, and deduplicate that data in a second zone. Finally, they will create aggregated, business-ready datasets in a third zone for analysts. This layered approach is known as which architecture?

Question 5

A data engineer needs to transform large datasets stored in Azure Data Lake Storage Gen2 using Python and Apache Spark. They want a serverless compute option that automatically scales and requires no cluster management. Which Azure service should they use?

Question 6

A company collects customer feedback forms. Each form contains always-present fields like CustomerID and SubmissionDate, but also a free-text Comments field and optional fields like Rating or ProductCategory that vary between forms. How should this data be classified?

FAQ

Questions learners often ask

What does this DP-900 question test?

Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.

What is the correct answer to this question?

The correct answer is: Semi-structured data — The data has a flexible schema where fields can vary, which is characteristic of semi-structured data. Structured data requires a fixed schema, unstructured data has no schema, and relational data implies a fixed schema enforced by tables. JSON is a common format for semi-structured data.

What should I do if I get this DP-900 question wrong?

Then try more questions from the same exam bank and focus on understanding why the wrong options are tempting.

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