Structured (SQL, CSV). Semi-structured (JSON, Avro, Parquet). Unstructured (logs, text, images). Temporal (time-series, events). Geospatial. Example: 'Semi-structured Kafka JSON; structured RDS; Parquet lake; log data.' Formats and use cases; schema-on-read vs -write.
The complete answer continues with detailed implementation patterns, architectural trade-offs, and production-grade considerations. It covers performance optimization strategies, common pitfalls to avoid, and real-world examples from companies like Cognizant. The answer also includes follow-up discussion points that interviewers commonly explore.
Continue Reading the Full Answer
Unlock the complete expert answer with code examples, trade-offs, and pro tips - plus 1,863+ more.
Or upgrade to Platform Pro - $39
Engineers who used these answers got offers at
AmazonDatabricksSnowflakeGoogleMeta
According to DataEngPrep.tech, this is one of the most frequently asked General/Other interview questions, reported at 1 company. DataEngPrep.tech maintains a curated database of 1,863+ real data engineering interview questions across 7 categories, verified by industry professionals.