SnowPro Associate: Platform Question 270
Single answer● Preview the table dataA data engineer has just loaded a new CSV file into the table SALES_RAW and wants to quickly inspect the contents to confirm the columns were mapped correctly before writing any transformation logic. The engineer wants the fastest way to preview a small sample of rows directly in SQL without changing any data. Which query should the engineer use?
- A
SELECT * FROM SALES_RAW LIMIT 10;
- B
SHOW TABLES LIKE 'SALES_RAW';
- C
DESCRIBE TABLE SALES_RAW;
- D
LIST @SALES_RAW;
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: A
Explanation
To preview table data in Snowflake, the correct approach is to query the table with SELECT, typically combined with LIMIT to return only a few rows for quick inspection. This is a common best practice when validating newly loaded data because it is simple, non-destructive, and immediately shows actual row values. By contrast, SHOW TABLES and DESCRIBE TABLE return metadata, not data rows, and LIST is used for stages rather than tables. Snowflake documentation distinguishes clearly between querying table data with SELECT and inspecting object metadata with SHOW and DESCRIBE commands.
- A. Correct.
Correct. A SELECT statement with LIMIT returns a small set of rows from the table, which is the standard way to preview table data in Snowflake. This allows the engineer to inspect actual values and verify that the load mapped columns as expected without modifying the table.
- B. Incorrect.
Incorrect. SHOW TABLES returns metadata about tables, such as names and other properties, but it does not display the rows stored in SALES_RAW. Someone might choose this option because it helps confirm the table exists, but it does not preview data.
- C. Incorrect.
Incorrect. DESCRIBE TABLE shows the table schema, including column names and data types, not the data itself. This is useful for checking structure, but it cannot confirm whether the loaded values look correct.
- D. Incorrect.
Incorrect. LIST is used to view files in an internal or external stage, not rows in a table. A candidate might confuse staged file inspection with table data inspection, but SALES_RAW is a table, not a stage reference.