Snowflake Certification Practice Test

Semi-structured data strings in Snowflake are stored using which data type?

1. Object

2. Varchar

3. Character

4. Variant

The correct answer is: Variant

Semi-structured data strings in Snowflake are stored using the Variant data type, which is specifically designed to handle semi-structured data formats such as JSON, Avro, and Parquet. The Variant type allows for flexible storage of various types of data within a single column, accommodating the hierarchical and nested structures that are often found in semi-structured formats. This capability enables users to store complex data structures without needing to define a rigid schema in advance. In contrast, while other data types such as Object or Varchar might handle structured data or string representations, they are not suitable for the varied and flexible nature of semi-structured data. For instance, Varchar is intended for character strings and lacks the capabilities needed to process nested objects or arrays, which are common in semi-structured data. Similarly, the Object data type is used for storing JSON-like structures but still lacks the full versatility of the Variant type when it comes to handling diverse semi-structured data specifically. The Variant type stands out for providing the necessary balance between flexibility, efficiency, and ease of use when working with such data.