Data Engineering Associate with Databricks Practice Exam

How do you access a specific version of a Delta table?

1. SELECT * FROM table_name WHERE VERSION = 3

2. SELECT * FROM table_name VERSION AS OF 3

3. VIEW table_name VERSION 3

4. SHOW table_name AS OF VERSION 3

The correct answer is: SELECT * FROM table_name VERSION AS OF 3

The access of a specific version of a Delta table is done using the syntax that allows the user to reference a specific historical version in their queries. The statement provided in the correct choice indicates the use of "VERSION AS OF" which is the appropriate method in Delta Lake for retrieving a versioned snapshot of the data. In Delta Lake, one can query historical data by specifying the version of the table directly within the SQL statement. The phrase "VERSION AS OF" denotes that during the execution of the query, the system will retrieve the data as it existed at the specified version, in this case, version 3. This feature is essential for scenarios where there is a need to access historical states of the data for auditing, recoverability, or analysis purposes. This ability to refer to specific versions seamlessly integrates with the functionality of Delta Lake, enhancing its usability for data engineers who require precise control over their data versions.