Commonly Asked Snowflake Questions in Interviews #1

Snowflake is a popular cloud-based database platform that provides robust data storage, processing, and analytics solutions. Whether you are preparing for a Snowflake-related interview or looking to expand your knowledge, here are some key questions and answers that dive into Snowflake’s architecture, features, and functionalities.

1. Can you explain Snowflake’s architecture?

Snowflake’s architecture is built on three distinct layers:

1. Database Storage: Snowflake stores data in a compressed, columnar format, leveraging micro-partitions to optimize storage efficiency.
2. Compute Layer (Virtual Warehouses): Virtual warehouses perform all the computational tasks like querying, loading, and transforming data. These warehouses can be scaled up or down independently.
3. Cloud Services Layer: This includes services like metadata management, query optimization, security, and access control. It governs how data is processed and manages infrastructure under the hood.

2. What are micro-partitions in Snowflake?

Micro-partitions are small, columnar storage units that Snowflake uses to store data. Each partition contains metadata about the stored data, such as min/max…