What is a characteristic of non-relational data?

Question

Options

• Ano indexes
• Bself-describing entities
• Ca well-defined schema
• Dno unique key values

• A
  6% (2)
• B
  88% (29)
• C
  3% (1)
• D
  3% (1)

Explanation

Non-relational (NoSQL) databases store self-describing entities - each record carries its own structure (e.g., JSON documents include field names alongside values), so the data describes itself without needing an external schema definition.

Why the distractors are wrong:

• A (no indexes): NoSQL databases absolutely support indexes; indexing is a storage/retrieval concept independent of the relational vs. non-relational distinction.
• C (a well-defined schema): A fixed, well-defined schema is a hallmark of relational databases; non-relational stores are valued precisely for their schema flexibility ("schema-on-read").
• D (no unique key values): NoSQL databases do use unique keys (e.g., a document _id in MongoDB) - the difference is in structure, not the absence of keys.

Memory tip: Think of a JSON document - it bundles "name": "Alice" together in one place. The field name and value travel together, making the entity self-describing. If you remember JSON, you remember option B.

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