Snowflake SnowPro Certification Practice Test

Are new partitions in Snowflake based on physical properties?

1. True

2. False

3. Only for specific data types

4. Depends on user-defined settings

The correct answer is: True

New partitions in Snowflake are indeed based on physical properties, primarily to optimize data storage and retrieval processes. When data is ingested into Snowflake, the system automatically divides it into micro-partitions, which are the fundamental units of storage in Snowflake. These micro-partitions are created based on various characteristics of the data, including the data type and the values contained within the columns. The design of these micro-partitions allows for efficient data management and query optimization. For example, when executing a query, Snowflake can prune unnecessary partitions, scanning only those that contain relevant data. This leads to improved performance and reduced costs associated with data retrieval. Given that partitioning is inherently linked to physical properties such as data distribution and characteristics, the notion that new partitions are not based on these physical properties would be incorrect. Therefore, recognizing that Snowflake's architecture leverages physical data properties to enhance performance is key to understanding how data is stored and managed within the platform.