Question 324 of 820
DP-900 Describe core data concepts Practice Question
A retail company stores customer transaction data in a relational database. Each transaction is recorded with a fixed schema including TransactionID, CustomerID, ProductID, Quantity, and TotalAmount. Which type of data does this represent?
⚠ Common exam trap
Watch out — candidates often confuse 'structured data' with 'semi-structured data' because both have some organization, but the key differentiator is the rigid, predefined schema enforced by the relational database versus the flexible, self-describing schema of semi-structured formats like JSON or XML.
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
✓
Structured data
The data conforms to a fixed schema with defined columns (TransactionID, CustomerID, ProductID, Quantity, TotalAmount) and data types, which is the defining characteristic of structured data. In a relational database, this schema enforces consistency and allows for efficient querying using SQL, making it a classic example of structured data.
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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Unstructured data
Why it's wrong here
Unstructured data has no predefined schema or data model, often existing as free-form text, images, or audio files where the meaning is not captured in a fixed field structure. Transaction data with explicit columns like TransactionID, CustomerID, and PurchaseAmount is the antithesis of this, because every record conforms to a rigid, known format. Thus, calling it unstructured ignores the very schema that makes it queryable.
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Semi-structured data
Why it's wrong here
Semi-structured data contains some organizational cues, such as tags or key-value pairs, but it does not enforce a uniform, rigid schema across all records. Examples include JSON, XML, or Parquet files where fields can vary between records. A relational table with fixed columns and data types is fully structured, not semi-structured, because every row must adhere to the same predefined columns and constraints.
- ✓
Structured data
Why this is correct
Structured data conforms to a predefined schema, typically organized into rows and columns within a relational database. The transaction dataset with named columns (e.g., TransactionID, CustomerID, ProductID, Quantity, TotalAmount) and consistent data types fits this model exactly. This structure enables efficient SQL querying, indexing, and transactional integrity, making it the correct classification for customer transaction data.
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Binary data
Why it's wrong here
Binary data represents raw byte sequences with no inherent logical structure, commonly used for files like images, videos, or executable programs. In database contexts, binary large objects (BLOBs) store such files, but they are not interpreted as discrete fields. Transaction data, by contrast, consists of readable numeric and text values stored in typed columns, not as unstructured byte streams.
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
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