COF-C03 Data Loading, Unloading, and Connectivity Practice Question
A user needs to load data from a CSV file stored in an external stage into a Snowflake table. The CSV file has a header row and uses a pipe (|) as the field delimiter. The user wants to ensure the header row is skipped and the pipe delimiter is recognized. Which FILE_FORMAT options should be specified in the COPY INTO command?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is mixing up FIELD_DELIMITER and RECORD_DELIMITER; RECORD_DELIMITER is for row separation, not field separation.
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
✓
TYPE = 'CSV', FIELD_DELIMITER = '|', SKIP_HEADER = 1
For a CSV file with a pipe delimiter and a header row, the FILE_FORMAT should specify TYPE = 'CSV', FIELD_DELIMITER = '|', and SKIP_HEADER = 1. This ensures the header is ignored and fields are correctly separated. Using the wrong delimiter or not skipping the header would result in parsing errors or unwanted data.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
TYPE = 'CSV', FIELD_DELIMITER = '|', SKIP_HEADER = 1
Why this is correct
This is correct because for CSV files, the FILE_FORMAT must specify TYPE = 'CSV'. The FIELD_DELIMITER option sets the delimiter to a pipe, and SKIP_HEADER = 1 tells Snowflake to skip the first row (the header). These options together ensure the file is parsed correctly, with the header ignored and fields separated by the pipe character. This is the standard way to handle such CSV files.
- ✗
TYPE = 'CSV', FIELD_DELIMITER = '|', SKIP_HEADER = 0
Why it's wrong here
SKIP_HEADER = 0 means no header row is skipped. The file has a header row that should be skipped; otherwise, the header text would be loaded as data, causing type mismatch errors or unwanted rows. Therefore, this option fails to skip the header, leading to incorrect data in the table. The correct value is 1 to skip the first row.
- ✗
TYPE = 'CSV', RECORD_DELIMITER = '|', SKIP_HEADER = 1
Why it's wrong here
RECORD_DELIMITER specifies the character that separates records (rows), not fields. Setting it to a pipe would be incorrect because the pipe is used as a field delimiter, not a row delimiter. This would cause Snowflake to misinterpret row boundaries, likely merging multiple rows into one or splitting incorrectly. The correct option is FIELD_DELIMITER, not RECORD_DELIMITER.
- ✗
TYPE = 'CSV', FIELD_DELIMITER = ',', SKIP_HEADER = 1
Why it's wrong here
This uses a comma as the delimiter, but the file uses a pipe. This would cause the entire row to be treated as a single column or lead to incorrect parsing. The FIELD_DELIMITER must match the actual delimiter in the file. Therefore, this option would not correctly parse the data, resulting in errors or misaligned columns.
About these practice questions
This COF-C03 question is part of Courseiva's 280-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 COF-C03 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 COF-C03 exam.