DP-900 Describe core data concepts Practice Question
Which THREE are characteristics of structured data? (Choose three.)
⚠ Common exam trap
Watch out — candidates often confuse semi-structured formats like JSON and XML with structured data, but structured data requires a rigid schema enforced by the database, not just a self-describing format.
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
✓
Has a predefined schema
Structured data has a predefined schema, meaning the data types, relationships, and constraints are defined before data is entered. This schema ensures consistency and enables efficient querying, which is why relational databases enforce a fixed schema through table definitions and constraints like primary keys and foreign keys.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Has a predefined schema
Why this is correct
Structured data relies on a predefined schema, meaning the logical model—including column names, data types, and integrity constraints—is designed before any data is written. This schema-on-write approach enforces consistency and validity at ingest time, allowing databases to optimize indexes, partitions, and query plans. Because the schema is fixed, every record must conform, which makes structured data highly predictable and reliably queryable.
- ✗
Consists of audio and video files
Why it's wrong here
Audio and video files are stored as compressed binary or waveform data with no inherent row-and-column organization or fixed attribute structure. Their content—such as spoken words or scene elements—is not represented directly in the file format, so meaning must be extracted through signal processing or machine learning. This makes them emblematic of unstructured data, where the structure is implicit rather than predefined.
- ✗
Uses JSON or XML format
Why it's wrong here
JSON and XML encode data as nested self-describing documents with named tags or keys, so they allow fields to vary between records without a central schema. Although these formats have syntactic structure, their semantic schema is not strictly enforced at storage time, letting records evolve independently. This flexibility places them in the semi-structured category, not the fully structured category, because they do not require a consistent row-column mapping.
- ✓
Stored in relational databases
Why this is correct
Relational databases are the canonical storage engine for structured data because they organize records into tables with fixed columns, primary/foreign keys, and strict data types enforced by the engine. SQL queries join tables using these relationships, while normalization reduces redundancy and protects integrity. This combination of enforced schema and set-based operations is why structured data is traditionally equated with relational storage.
- ✓
Organized in rows and columns
Why this is correct
Structured data is fundamentally characterised by its adherence to a predefined data model, which mandates its organisation into a tabular format. This means data is systematically arranged in rows and columns, where each row represents a unique record and each column corresponds to a specific attribute or field. This precise, schema-bound arrangement is a defining feature, directly satisfying the requirement to identify characteristics of structured data.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Data Roles and Core Concepts
Key term
Schema
A schema is a blueprint or logical structure that defines how data is organized, stored, and accessed in a database or information system.
Key term
Table
A table is a structured collection of data organized into rows and columns, used in databases and spreadsheets to store and manage information efficiently.
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