Data Engineering Associate with Databricks Practice Exam

What is a potential downside of overwriting a table versus deleting and recreating it?

1. It results in a loss of data history

2. It complicates the logging process

3. It may lead to schema changes

4. It creates a clean table history

The correct answer is: It results in a loss of data history

Overwriting a table typically leads to the loss of data history because the previous version of the table is completely replaced with the new dataset. This means that any historical data, previous states, or versions of records that could have been useful for auditing or analysis are no longer available after the overwrite operation. Maintaining data history is crucial in many scenarios, such as when analyzing trends over time or keeping track of changes made to the data. In contrast, deleting and recreating a table can allow for the possibility of maintaining some record of the original table, especially if proper procedures are in place to archive data before deletion. This approach may allow data engineers to manage versions of the data effectively without losing important historical context, thus preserving valuable insights that can inform future business decisions.