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CERTIFIED-DATA-ANALYST-ASSOCIATE · Question #47

Delta Lake stores table data as a series of data files, but it also stores a lot of other information. Which of the following is stored alongside data files when using Delta Lake?

The correct answer is C. Table metadata. Delta Lake stores table metadata alongside data files in the _delta_log transaction log directory. This log contains schema definitions, partitioning information, file-level statistics, and a history of all transactions - making ACID transactions and time travel possible without

Question

Delta Lake stores table data as a series of data files, but it also stores a lot of other information. Which of the following is stored alongside data files when using Delta Lake?

Options

  • ANone of these
  • BTable metadata, data summary visualizations, and owner account information
  • CTable metadata
  • DData summary visualizations
  • EOwner account information

How the community answered

(39 responses)
  • A
    13% (5)
  • B
    3% (1)
  • C
    77% (30)
  • D
    3% (1)
  • E
    5% (2)

Explanation

Delta Lake stores table metadata alongside data files in the _delta_log transaction log directory. This log contains schema definitions, partitioning information, file-level statistics, and a history of all transactions - making ACID transactions and time travel possible without an external metastore.

Why the distractors are wrong:

  • B is wrong because it bundles two false items with the correct one - Delta Lake stores no data summary visualizations or owner account information natively.
  • D is wrong because Delta Lake produces no built-in visualization artifacts on disk; dashboards and summaries live in separate tools (e.g., Databricks UI).
  • E is wrong because ownership and account information are managed at the platform/catalog layer (e.g., Unity Catalog), not stored inside the Delta table itself.
  • A is wrong because metadata clearly is stored - the entire reliability model of Delta Lake depends on it.

Memory tip: Think of Delta Lake as a table with a diary (_delta_log). The diary records what the data looks like (metadata/schema) and what happened to it (transactions) - but it has no artwork (visualizations) and doesn't know who owns the house (account info).

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