- A
Atomicity
Atomicity ensures that a transaction is an all-or-nothing operation. If any part of the transaction fails, the entire transaction is rolled back, preventing partial updates.
- B
Consistency
Why wrong: Consistency ensures that a transaction brings the database from one valid state to another, maintaining data integrity rules. It does not directly guarantee the all-or-nothing execution of operations.
- C
Isolation
Why wrong: Isolation ensures that concurrent transactions do not interfere with each other. It addresses visibility of intermediate transaction states, not the atomicity of operations within a single transaction.
- D
Durability
Why wrong: Durability guarantees that once a transaction is committed, its changes persist even in the event of a system failure. It does not relate to the all-or-nothing execution of a transaction.
DP-900 Describe core data concepts Practice Question
This DP-900 practice question tests your understanding of describe core data concepts. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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.
An e-commerce application processes customer orders. When an order is placed, the system must decrement the inventory count and process the payment. The application ensures that either both operations complete successfully or both are rolled back if any error occurs. Which database property does this guarantee?
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
Atomicity
Atomicity ensures that a transaction is treated as a single, indivisible unit of work: either all operations within it (decrement inventory and process payment) complete successfully, or none are applied. If any part fails, the database rolls back all changes, maintaining the 'all-or-nothing' guarantee. This is the core property described in the scenario.
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.
- ✓
Atomicity
Why this is correct
Atomicity ensures that a transaction is an all-or-nothing operation. If any part of the transaction fails, the entire transaction is rolled back, preventing partial updates.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Consistency
Why it's wrong here
Consistency ensures that a transaction brings the database from one valid state to another, maintaining data integrity rules. It does not directly guarantee the all-or-nothing execution of operations.
- ✗
Isolation
Why it's wrong here
Isolation ensures that concurrent transactions do not interfere with each other. It addresses visibility of intermediate transaction states, not the atomicity of operations within a single transaction.
- ✗
Durability
Why it's wrong here
Durability guarantees that once a transaction is committed, its changes persist even in the event of a system failure. It does not relate to the all-or-nothing execution of a transaction.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates confuse atomicity with consistency, thinking that 'keeping data valid' is the same as 'all-or-nothing execution,' but atomicity is specifically about the transaction's indivisibility, not about data integrity rules.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, atomicity is typically implemented via a write-ahead log (WAL) or undo log. If a transaction fails mid-way, the database uses the log to revert any partial writes. In distributed systems, atomicity across multiple nodes often relies on a two-phase commit (2PC) protocol, where a coordinator ensures all participants either commit or abort together.
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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Describe core data concepts — study guide chapter
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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: Atomicity — Atomicity ensures that a transaction is treated as a single, indivisible unit of work: either all operations within it (decrement inventory and process payment) complete successfully, or none are applied. If any part fails, the database rolls back all changes, maintaining the 'all-or-nothing' guarantee. This is the core property described in the scenario.
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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