DEA-C02 Data Movement Practice Question
A data engineer needs to unload a large table from Snowflake to an external stage. The unloading process must produce a single compressed file. Which COPY INTO <location> option should be used to ensure the output is a single file?
⚠ Common exam trap
Many exam-takers confuse MAX_FILE_SIZE with SINGLE, as MAX_FILE_SIZE only limits file size but does not guarantee a single file.
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
✓
SINGLE = TRUE
To unload data into a single file, the COPY INTO <location> command must include the SINGLE = TRUE option. This forces Snowflake to write all data to one file, which can be necessary when the downstream system cannot handle multiple files. However, using SINGLE = TRUE may reduce performance for large datasets because the unload operation is not parallelized across multiple files.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
SINGLE = TRUE
Why this is correct
The SINGLE = TRUE option in a COPY INTO <location> command directs Snowflake to unload the data into a single file, rather than multiple files. This is useful when the target system expects a single file. However, it may impact performance for very large datasets because the unload is not parallelized.
- ✗
PARTITION_BY = <column>
Why it's wrong here
PARTITION_BY is used to unload data into separate files based on the values of a column. This creates multiple files, one for each partition, which is the opposite of producing a single file. It is used for organizing output data, not for consolidating into one file.
- ✗
DETAILED_OUTPUT = TRUE
Why it's wrong here
DETAILED_OUTPUT is a copy option that provides detailed output about the unloaded files, such as file names and sizes. It does not control the number of output files; it only affects the information returned by the command. It does not ensure a single file output.
- ✗
MAX_FILE_SIZE = <size>
Why it's wrong here
MAX_FILE_SIZE specifies the maximum size of each file when unloading into multiple files. It does not force the output to be a single file; instead, it controls the size of each file in a multi-file unload. Setting a large value might reduce the number of files, but it does not guarantee a single file.
About these practice questions
Courseiva writes every DEA-C02 question from scratch — 229 in total, each with an explanation and a wrong-answer breakdown. None are copied from real exams or dumps. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official Snowflake exam blueprint
This DEA-C02 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Snowflake 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 DEA-C02 exam.