- A
GPS ingestion is stream processing; nightly aggregation is batch processing.
Correct. Real-time GPS data is ingested as a continuous stream, while the nightly job processes accumulated data in a batch.
- B
GPS ingestion is batch processing; nightly aggregation is stream processing.
Why wrong: Incorrect. This reverses the definitions. GPS data arrives continuously (stream), and the nightly job runs on a fixed schedule (batch).
- C
Both workloads are examples of stream processing.
Why wrong: Incorrect. The nightly aggregation is not continuous; it processes data in a single scheduled run, which is batch processing.
- D
Both workloads are examples of batch processing.
Why wrong: Incorrect. The GPS ingestion is continuous and real-time, not processed in discrete batches.
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 logistics company ingests GPS coordinates from delivery trucks in real-time to update a live tracking dashboard. They also run a nightly job to aggregate the day's deliveries into a report stored in Azure SQL Database. Which statement correctly describes the data processing types used for these two workloads?
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
GPS ingestion is stream processing; nightly aggregation is batch processing.
Option A is correct because the real-time ingestion of GPS coordinates from delivery trucks is a classic stream processing workload, where data is processed continuously as it arrives with low latency. The nightly aggregation of daily deliveries into a report stored in Azure SQL Database is a batch processing workload, where data is processed in bulk at scheduled intervals. Azure Stream Analytics is commonly used for the streaming ingestion, while Azure SQL Database or Azure Synapse Analytics can handle the batch aggregation.
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.
- ✓
GPS ingestion is stream processing; nightly aggregation is batch processing.
Why this is correct
Correct. Real-time GPS data is ingested as a continuous stream, while the nightly job processes accumulated data in a batch.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
GPS ingestion is batch processing; nightly aggregation is stream processing.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. This reverses the definitions. GPS data arrives continuously (stream), and the nightly job runs on a fixed schedule (batch).
- ✗
Both workloads are examples of stream processing.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. The nightly aggregation is not continuous; it processes data in a single scheduled run, which is batch processing.
- ✗
Both workloads are examples of batch processing.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. The GPS ingestion is continuous and real-time, not processed in discrete batches.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates confuse the terms 'stream processing' and 'batch processing' by focusing on the data source (GPS is continuous) versus the processing schedule (nightly is periodic), rather than the fundamental processing paradigm of continuous vs. bulk data handling.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Stream processing, as used for GPS ingestion, typically involves technologies like Azure Stream Analytics or Apache Kafka, which process events with sub-second latency using sliding windows or tumbling windows. Batch processing, as used for nightly aggregation, often leverages Azure Data Factory or SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS) to execute scheduled jobs that read from a data lake or staging table and write aggregated results to Azure SQL Database. A subtle behavior is that stream processing can also handle late-arriving data using watermarking, while batch processing assumes all data for the period is available at job start.
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.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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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: GPS ingestion is stream processing; nightly aggregation is batch processing. — Option A is correct because the real-time ingestion of GPS coordinates from delivery trucks is a classic stream processing workload, where data is processed continuously as it arrives with low latency. The nightly aggregation of daily deliveries into a report stored in Azure SQL Database is a batch processing workload, where data is processed in bulk at scheduled intervals. Azure Stream Analytics is commonly used for the streaming ingestion, while Azure SQL Database or Azure Synapse Analytics can handle the batch aggregation.
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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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
This DP-900 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Microsoft certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the DP-900 exam.
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