Snowflake SnowPro Certification Practice Test

Are micro-partitions in Snowflake immutable?

1. True

2. False

3. Only after initial creation

4. They can be modified at any time

The correct answer is: True

Micro-partitions in Snowflake are indeed immutable, meaning that once they are created, they cannot be modified. This characteristic is crucial for several reasons. Firstly, immutability contributes to the consistency and integrity of the data. By ensuring that data doesn't change after it's stored, Snowflake can offer a reliable view of the data as it existed at the time it was partitioned. This is especially important in scenarios involving time travel or when maintaining historical data for analytical purposes. Secondly, because micro-partitions are immutable, they allow Snowflake to leverage an efficient storage model that optimizes performance. When data is written, it's stored in these micro-partitions, which are then compressed and indexed for faster query performance. Overall, the immutability of micro-partitions plays a vital role in enhancing data protection, query efficiency, and simplifying data management within the Snowflake environment.