Snowflake SnowPro Certification Practice Test

What happens to the data in a Temporary Table when the session that created it ends?

1. Data is archived

2. Data remains until manually deleted

3. Data is purged

4. Data is transferred to a Permanent Table

The correct answer is: Data is purged

When a session that created a Temporary Table ends, all data contained in that table is automatically purged. Temporary Tables in Snowflake are designed for short-term use, specifically to hold data for the duration of a user's session. Once the session is terminated—whether normally or abruptly—the Temporary Table and its data are discarded. This functionality helps to manage resources effectively and ensures that temporary data is not accidentally retained or exposed in subsequent sessions. Temporary Tables are distinct from Permanent Tables, which maintain data until explicitly deleted or dropped. Additionally, the concept of archiving data or transferring it to a different table does not apply in this context as it undermines the purpose of Temporary Tables, which is to facilitate ephemeral data storage during a user's active session.