DP-900 Describe core data concepts Practice Question
Which TWO of the following are characteristics of structured data?
⚠ Common exam trap
It's easy for candidates to 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.
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
✓
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.
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 is defined by a rigid schema that specifies data types, constraints, and relationships before any data is written. This schema enforces consistency and enables efficient querying and indexing, but it demands careful upfront design and makes evolving the data model costly.
- ✗
It is stored in Azure Blob Storage as objects
Why it's wrong here
Azure Blob Storage is an object-based storage service designed for massive amounts of unstructured data, such as images, videos, logs, and backup files. Blobs are stored as opaque byte streams with no schema or relational structure, and while you can place CSV files inside blobs, the service itself does not interpret them as structured tables. Thus, storing structured data in Blob Storage contradicts its fundamental purpose.
- ✗
It can contain images and videos
Why it's wrong here
Images and videos consist of binary pixel or frame data that has no fixed schema and cannot be directly queried with SQL or relational operations. Although they may include embedded metadata like EXIF tags, the underlying data is not organized into rows and columns with defined data types. That is what makes images and videos classic examples of unstructured data.
- ✓
It is often stored in relational databases
Why this is correct
Relational databases, such as Azure SQL Database, natively support structured data through the relational model, which uses tables, primary keys, and foreign key constraints to enforce integrity and relationships at the schema level. This structure allows organizations to run complex SQL queries, guarantee ACID transactions, and normalize data to eliminate redundancy, making relational databases the most common storage engine for structured information.
- ✗
It uses tags to describe the data
Why it's wrong here
Tags are key-value pairs used to attach descriptive metadata to data, commonly found in semi-structured formats like JSON, XML, or in blob index tags for Azure Blob Storage. Structured data, however, carries attributes as strongly typed columns defined in a schema, so tags are neither required nor a defining characteristic. Adding tags to arbitrary data does not transform it into structured data.
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Data Roles and Core Concepts
Key term
Structured data
Structured data is information that is organized in a predefined format, typically in rows and columns, making it easy to search, process, and analyze by computers.
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.
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