Alteryx Foundation Micro-Credential Practice Exam

Which category of data accounts for the largest amount of data?

1. Structured data

2. Semi-structured data

3. Unstructured data

4. Tabular data

The correct answer is: Unstructured data

Unstructured data accounts for the largest amount of data generated today. This category includes various formats that do not have a predefined data model, making it difficult to organize in conventional databases. Examples of unstructured data are text files, emails, social media posts, videos, images, and audio files. Its prevalence is largely due to the vast quantities of data generated by users and devices across the internet and digital communications, which far exceeds the data produced in more structured forms. Structured data, which includes data that is organized into a predefined format (such as tables within databases), is more easily processed and analyzed but constitutes a smaller proportion of total data in the world. Semi-structured data falls between structured and unstructured, containing both elements that can be organized as well as those that cannot, such as JSON or XML files. Tabular data is a specific type of structured data organized into rows and columns, making it even more limited in scope compared to the broader categories. Therefore, unstructured data represents a significant and diverse volume in the landscape of global data.