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Non-Relational Data on Azure: Sample Questions and Answers

Note

The questions and answers provided in this study guide are for practice purposes only and are not official practice questions. They are intended to help you prepare for the DP-900 Microsoft certification exam. For additional preparation materials and the most up-to-date information, please refer to the official Microsoft documentation.

  • Describe considerations for working with non-relational data on Azure
List of References (Click to expand)
List of questions/answers (Click to expand)

Tip

Cosmos APIs:

Cosmos API Description
Core (SQL) A native API for Azure Cosmos DB that supports SQL-like queries to manage JSON documents. Ideal for applications requiring rich querying capabilities and transactional consistency.
Gremlin A graph database API based on Apache TinkerPop, used to store and query graph data with vertices and edges. Suitable for applications that need to model and traverse complex relationships.
MongoDB An API that provides wire protocol compatibility with MongoDB, allowing you to use existing MongoDB drivers and tools. Ideal for applications already using MongoDB.
Table An API that provides key-value storage with a schemaless design, compatible with Azure Table Storage. Suitable for applications that need a simple, scalable, and cost-effective storage solution.

Tip

CAP means:

The CAP theorem, also known as Brewer's theorem, states that in a distributed data store, it is impossible to simultaneously provide all three of the following guarantees. In essence, a distributed system can only achieve two out of the three properties at any given time.

  1. Consistency: Every read receives the most recent write or an error.
  2. Availability: Every request receives a response, without guarantee that it contains the most recent write.
  3. Partition Tolerance: The system continues to operate despite an arbitrary number of messages being dropped (or delayed) by the network between nodes.

Q1: Understanding NoSQL Database Types

For each of the following statements about NoSQL database types, select if the statement is correct.

  • Key-value stores are optimized for complex queries and transactions. ❌: This is incorrect because key-value stores are optimized for simple lookups and do not support complex queries and transactions.
  • Document databases store data in JSON-like documents. ✅: This is correct because document databases, such as MongoDB, store data in JSON-like documents, which allows for flexible schemas.
  • Column family databases are designed for storing and managing large volumes of structured data. ✅: This is correct because column family databases, such as Apache Cassandra, are designed to handle large volumes of structured data efficiently.
  • Graph databases use nodes and edges to represent and store data. ✅: This is correct because graph databases, such as Neo4j, use nodes and edges to represent and store data, making them ideal for analyzing relationships between entities.

Q2: Understanding Azure Cosmos DB APIs

For each of the following statements about Azure Cosmos DB APIs, select if the statement is correct.

  • The Table API is used for complex relational queries. ❌: This is incorrect because the Table API provides key-value storage with a schemaless design, not for complex relational queries.
  • The Core (SQL) API supports SQL-like queries to manage JSON documents. ✅: This is correct because the Core (SQL) API supports SQL-like queries to manage JSON documents.
  • The Gremlin API is used to store and query graph data with vertices and edges. ✅: This is correct because the Gremlin API is based on Apache TinkerPop and is used to store and query graph data with vertices and edges.
  • The MongoDB API provides wire protocol compatibility with MongoDB. ✅: This is correct because the MongoDB API provides wire protocol compatibility with MongoDB, allowing you to use existing MongoDB drivers and tools.

Q3: Understanding Azure Cosmos DB APIs

For each of the following statements about Azure Cosmos DB APIs, select if the statement is correct.

  • The MongoDB API is not compatible with existing MongoDB drivers and tools. ❌: This is incorrect because the MongoDB API provides wire protocol compatibility with MongoDB, allowing the use of existing MongoDB drivers and tools.
  • The Core (SQL) API is ideal for applications requiring rich querying capabilities and transactional consistency. ✅: This is correct because the Core (SQL) API supports SQL-like queries and provides transactional consistency, making it ideal for such applications.
  • The Gremlin API is suitable for applications that need to model and traverse complex relationships. ✅: This is correct because the Gremlin API is designed for graph data, which is used to model and traverse complex relationships.
  • The Table API is suitable for applications that need a simple, scalable, and cost-effective storage solution. ✅: This is correct because the Table API provides key-value storage with a schemaless design, making it suitable for simple, scalable, and cost-effective storage.

Q4: Understanding CAP Theorem

For each of the following statements about the CAP theorem, select if the statement is correct.

  • The CAP theorem states that a distributed database can achieve consistency, availability, and partition tolerance simultaneously. ❌: This is incorrect because the CAP theorem states that a distributed database can only achieve two out of the three properties: consistency, availability, and partition tolerance.
  • Consistency in the CAP theorem means that all nodes see the same data at the same time. ✅: This is correct because consistency ensures that all nodes in a distributed system see the same data at the same time.
  • Availability in the CAP theorem means that every request receives a response, even if some nodes are down. ✅: This is correct because availability ensures that every request receives a response, even if some nodes are down.
  • Partition tolerance in the CAP theorem means that the system continues to operate despite network partitions. ✅: This is correct because partition tolerance ensures that the system continues to operate even if there are network partitions.

Q5: Understanding Azure Cosmos DB APIs

For each of the following statements about Azure Cosmos DB APIs, select if the statement is correct.

  • The Core (SQL) API is based on Apache TinkerPop. ❌: This is incorrect because the Core (SQL) API is not based on Apache TinkerPop; the Gremlin API is.
  • The Gremlin API supports SQL-like queries to manage JSON documents. ❌: This is incorrect because the Gremlin API is used for graph data, not for SQL-like queries to manage JSON documents.
  • The MongoDB API allows you to use existing MongoDB drivers and tools. ✅: This is correct because the MongoDB API provides wire protocol compatibility with MongoDB, allowing the use of existing MongoDB drivers and tools.
  • The Table API provides key-value storage with a schemaless design. ✅: This is correct because the Table API provides key-value storage with a schemaless design.

Q6: Understanding NoSQL Data Models

For each of the following statements about NoSQL data models, select if the statement is correct.

  • Document databases use a tabular format to store data. ❌: This is incorrect because document databases store data in JSON-like documents, not in a tabular format.
  • Key-value stores use a simple key-value pair to store data. ✅: This is correct because key-value stores use a simple key-value pair to store data, making them ideal for simple lookups.
  • Column family databases organize data into rows and columns, similar to relational databases. ✅: This is correct because column family databases organize data into rows and columns, but they are optimized for large-scale data storage and retrieval.
  • Graph databases are designed to store and analyze relationships between entities. ✅: This is correct because graph databases use nodes and edges to represent and store data, making them ideal for analyzing relationships between entities.

Q7: Understanding NoSQL Use Cases

For each of the following statements about NoSQL use cases, select if the statement is correct.

  • Key-value stores are suitable for applications requiring high-speed transactions and real-time analytics. ❌: This is incorrect because key-value stores are designed for simple lookups and do not support high-speed transactions and real-time analytics.
  • Column family databases are suitable for applications requiring complex joins and relationships. ❌: This is incorrect because column family databases are not designed for complex joins and relationships; they are optimized for large volumes of structured data.
  • Graph databases are suitable for applications requiring the analysis of social networks and recommendation systems. ✅: This is correct because graph databases are ideal for analyzing social networks, recommendation systems, and other applications involving complex relationships.
  • Document databases are suitable for applications requiring flexible schemas and semi-structured data. ✅: This is correct because document databases provide flexible schemas and are designed to handle semi-structured data.

Q8: Understanding NoSQL Scalability

For each of the following statements about NoSQL scalability, select if the statement is correct.

  • NoSQL databases are limited to vertical scaling by adding more resources to a single server. ❌: This is incorrect because NoSQL databases are designed to scale horizontally, not just vertically.
  • NoSQL databases are not suitable for applications requiring high availability and fault tolerance. ❌: This is incorrect because NoSQL databases are designed to provide high availability and fault tolerance.
  • NoSQL databases are designed to scale horizontally by adding more servers. ✅: This is correct because NoSQL databases are designed to scale horizontally, allowing them to handle large volumes of data by adding more servers.
  • NoSQL databases can handle large volumes of unstructured and semi-structured data. ✅: This is correct because NoSQL databases are designed to handle large volumes of unstructured and semi-structured data.

Q9: Understanding Azure Cosmos DB APIs

For each of the following statements about Azure Cosmos DB APIs, select if the statement is correct.

  • The Core (SQL) API is used to store and query graph data. ❌: This is incorrect because the Core (SQL) API is used for SQL-like queries to manage JSON documents, not for graph data.
  • The Gremlin API is used for key-value storage with a schemaless design. ❌: This is incorrect because the Gremlin API is used for graph data, not for key-value storage.
  • The MongoDB API is ideal for applications already using MongoDB. ✅: This is correct because the MongoDB API provides wire protocol compatibility with MongoDB, making it ideal for applications already using MongoDB.
  • The Table API is compatible with Azure Table Storage. ✅: This is correct because the Table API provides key-value storage with a schemaless design and is compatible with Azure Table Storage.

Q10: Understanding Azure Cosmos DB APIs

For each of the following statements about Azure Cosmos DB APIs, select if the statement is correct.

  • The Core (SQL) API is suitable for applications that need to model and traverse complex relationships. ❌: This is incorrect because the Core (SQL) API is used for SQL-like queries to manage JSON documents, not for modeling and traversing complex relationships.
  • The MongoDB API is not suitable for applications already using MongoDB. ❌: This is incorrect because the MongoDB API provides wire protocol compatibility with MongoDB, making it suitable for applications already using MongoDB.
  • The Table API provides key-value storage with a schemaless design, suitable for simple, scalable, and cost-effective storage. ✅: This is correct because the Table API provides key-value storage with a schemaless design, making it suitable for simple, scalable, and cost-effective storage.
  • The Gremlin API is based on Apache TinkerPop and is used to store and query graph data. ✅: This is correct because the Gremlin API is based on Apache TinkerPop and is used to store and query graph data.