DEA-C02 Performance Optimization Practice Question
Which of the following describes the purpose of the 'Result Cache' in Snowflake?
⚠ Common exam trap
Test-takers frequently confuse the Result Cache with virtual warehouse caches, assuming that active warehouse compute credits are required to retrieve previously executed identical query outputs.
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 provides instant access to query results without compute costs.
The Result Cache is a managed feature that stores the output of a query for a period (typically 24 hours). If an identical query is submitted later, Snowflake returns the cached results immediately without using any compute resources. This is a critical performance and cost optimization tool, as it eliminates the need to re-process large datasets for common, repeated queries, providing near-zero latency and zero credit consumption.
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 stores data blocks to improve subsequent table scans.
Why it's wrong here
This describes the Local Disk Cache or the Warehouse Cache, not the Result Cache. The Result Cache specifically stores the output rows of a finalized query, whereas the data cache stores micro-partition data blocks that are accessed during the execution of a query.
- ✓
It provides instant access to query results without compute costs.
Why this is correct
The Result Cache stores the output of previous queries. When a subsequent query matches the original exactly, Snowflake retrieves the results from the cache instead of running the query again. This avoids the need to spin up or utilize a warehouse, resulting in zero cost for that specific operation.
- ✗
It allows users to manually clear cache for specific tables.
Why it's wrong here
The Result Cache is managed automatically by Snowflake. Users cannot manually clear it, nor is it associated with specific tables. It is bound to the query text, the context of the user, and the data within the tables at the time the query was executed.
- ✗
It persists query results permanently in the user's stage.
Why it's wrong here
The Result Cache is temporary and typically expires after 24 hours. It is not stored in a user-accessible stage and cannot be used for permanent data persistence. Its function is strictly to serve as a transient performance optimization mechanism for repeated queries within a short timeframe.
About these practice questions
This DEA-C02 question is part of Courseiva's 229-question bank — original exam-style content with full explanations and wrong-answer analysis, never real exam questions or exam 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.