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What happens if the vacuum command is not run periodically?

Spark/Big Dataeasy0.4 min readPremium
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Asked at 1 company
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PWC
Expert AnswerPremium
88 wordsInterview-ready
**Without VACUUM**: (1) Old files accumulate—storage grows unbounded. (2) Time travel retains references; VACUUM removes files older than retention (default 7 days). (3) Many small files = slow metadata and reads. (4) File count limits in some systems. **Why Run It**: Reclaim storage; improve read performance; control file count. **Trade-off**: VACUUM removes time-travel capability for older versions. Ensure no active time-travel queries....
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