SnowPro Associate: Platform Question 268
Single answer● Preview the table dataA data engineer has just loaded a new table named SALES_RAW into Snowflake and wants to quickly inspect a few rows to verify that the data landed correctly before writing any transformations. The engineer does not need the entire dataset, only a small sample for manual review. Which SQL statement is the most appropriate to preview the table data?
- A
SELECT * FROM SALES_RAW LIMIT 10;
- B
SHOW TABLES LIKE 'SALES_RAW';
- C
DESCRIBE TABLE SALES_RAW;
- D
SELECT COUNT(*) FROM SALES_RAW;
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: A
Explanation
To preview table data in Snowflake, the most appropriate approach is to query the table directly with SELECT and restrict the result set with LIMIT. This lets users inspect a small subset of records efficiently. Commands such as SHOW TABLES and DESCRIBE TABLE are metadata-oriented and do not display row values, while aggregate queries like COUNT(*) validate volume rather than content. In practice, engineers commonly use SELECT * FROM <table> LIMIT n immediately after loading data to spot issues such as nulls, unexpected formats, or incorrect column mapping. This aligns with standard Snowflake SQL usage documented for querying data and limiting result sets.
- A. Correct.
Correct.
SELECT * FROM SALES_RAW LIMIT 10;returns a small number of rows from the table, which is the standard way to preview table data in Snowflake. UsingLIMIThelps avoid scanning and returning unnecessary rows when the goal is only a quick visual inspection. - B. Incorrect.
Incorrect.
SHOW TABLES LIKE 'SALES_RAW';returns metadata about tables, such as table names and related properties, but it does not display the row data stored in the table. A candidate might choose this option because it helps confirm the table exists, but it does not preview contents. - C. Incorrect.
Incorrect.
DESCRIBE TABLE SALES_RAW;shows the table schema, including column names and data types, not the actual records. This is useful for understanding structure, but not for validating loaded values in the rows. - D. Incorrect.
Incorrect.
SELECT COUNT(*) FROM SALES_RAW;returns the total number of rows in the table, which can help validate load volume, but it does not preview any sample data. This is a common confusion between checking row counts and visually inspecting loaded records.