DP-900 Describe core data concepts Practice Question
This DP-900 practice question tests your understanding of describe core data concepts. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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.
Which TWO of the following are characteristics of structured data?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
It has a predefined schema
Structured data adheres to a predefined schema, meaning its fields, data types, and relationships are defined in advance, typically enforced by a database management system. This schema ensures consistency and enables efficient querying using SQL. Relational databases are the primary storage system for structured data, organizing it into tables with rows and columns that follow the schema.
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.
✓
It has a predefined schema
Why this is correct
Structured data conforms to a schema, such as tables with rows and columns.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
It is stored in Azure Blob Storage as objects
Why it's wrong here
Blob Storage stores unstructured data, not structured.
✗
It can contain images and videos
Why it's wrong here
Images and videos are unstructured data.
✓
It is often stored in relational databases
Why this is correct
Relational databases are designed for structured data with defined relationships.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
It uses tags to describe the data
Why it's wrong here
Tags are characteristic of semi-structured data (e.g., JSON, XML).
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates confuse the storage location (Azure Blob Storage) or metadata mechanisms (tags) with the core definition of structured data, which is solely about having a predefined schema and typically being stored in relational databases.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Structured data relies on a fixed schema defined using Data Definition Language (DDL) statements like CREATE TABLE, which specify column names, data types (e.g., INT, VARCHAR), constraints (e.g., PRIMARY KEY, FOREIGN KEY), and indexes. This schema is enforced at write time, ensuring data integrity and enabling ACID transactions. In contrast, semi-structured data (e.g., JSON) uses tags or attributes but does not require a rigid schema, and unstructured data (e.g., video files) has no schema at all.
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 media company stores terabytes of video archives that are accessed once a year for audit purposes. Moving these objects to a cold storage tier (Azure Archive, S3 Glacier, or Google Nearline) costs a fraction of hot storage. Questions like this test whether you understand storage tiers, access frequency tradeoffs, and retrieval latency requirements.
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 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: It has a predefined schema — Structured data adheres to a predefined schema, meaning its fields, data types, and relationships are defined in advance, typically enforced by a database management system. This schema ensures consistency and enables efficient querying using SQL. Relational databases are the primary storage system for structured data, organizing it into tables with rows and columns that follow the schema.
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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Question Discussion
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