DP-900 Practice Question: Describe considerations for working with non-relational data on Azure
This DP-900 practice question tests your understanding of describe considerations for working with non-relational data on azure. 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. A key principle to apply: sQL (Core) API natively stores data as JSON documents.. 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 social media application stores user profiles as JSON documents. Each profile has standard fields like userId, name, and email, but also optional fields such as education and work history. The application needs to query profiles by userId with low latency and also run SQL-like queries to find all profiles with a specific work history value. Which Azure Cosmos DB API should they choose?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
SQL (Core) API
The SQL (Core) API is the correct choice because it natively supports querying JSON documents with SQL-like syntax, enabling both low-latency point reads by userId and complex queries on nested fields like work history. It provides automatic indexing of all JSON properties, which ensures efficient execution of queries across optional fields without requiring schema management.
Key principle: SQL (Core) API natively stores data as JSON documents.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✓
SQL (Core) API
Why this is correct
The SQL API supports SQL-like queries on JSON documents, ideal for flexible schema and queries by userId and optional fields.
Related concept
SQL (Core) API natively stores data as JSON documents.
✗
MongoDB API
Why it's wrong here
MongoDB API uses a different query language (MongoDB query syntax), not SQL-like, and may require driver changes.
✗
Gremlin (Graph) API
Why it's wrong here
Gremlin API is designed for graph traversal queries, not for document-style SQL queries on JSON.
✗
Table API
Why it's wrong here
Table API is optimized for key-value access with a fixed schema and limited query capabilities.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often choose the MongoDB API because they associate JSON documents with MongoDB, but the question explicitly requires SQL-like queries, which is a native feature of the Core API and not MongoDB's query syntax.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, the SQL (Core) API uses a schema-agnostic indexing engine that automatically indexes every property in a JSON document, including nested arrays and objects. This allows queries like SELECT * FROM c WHERE ARRAY_CONTAINS(c.workHistory, {'company': 'Contoso'}) to be executed efficiently via index seek rather than full scan. In real-world scenarios, this is critical for social media applications where user profiles have highly variable optional fields and need both fast point reads (via partition key userId) and ad-hoc analytical queries.
KKey Concepts to Remember
SQL (Core) API natively stores data as JSON documents.
It supports SQL-like queries for flexible data retrieval.
It offers automatic indexing for low-latency queries.
It is ideal for semi-structured data with evolving schemas.
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
SQL (Core) API natively stores data as JSON documents.
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. SQL (Core) API natively stores data as JSON documents. Cloud exam questions reward reading the constraint carefully: the same technology can be right or wrong depending on the use case.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this DP-900 question in full detail.
Describe considerations for working with non-relational data on Azure — This question tests Describe considerations for working with non-relational data on Azure — SQL (Core) API natively stores data as JSON documents..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: SQL (Core) API — The SQL (Core) API is the correct choice because it natively supports querying JSON documents with SQL-like syntax, enabling both low-latency point reads by userId and complex queries on nested fields like work history. It provides automatic indexing of all JSON properties, which ensures efficient execution of queries across optional fields without requiring schema management.
What should I do if I get this DP-900 question wrong?
Review sQL (Core) API natively stores data as JSON documents., then practise related DP-900 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
What is the key concept behind this question?
SQL (Core) API natively stores data as JSON documents.
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