Databricks Certified Data Analyst Associate free question 3 / 10 · Domain 3: Importing Data
An analyst wants to bring tables from a PostgreSQL database into Databricks with a Lakeflow Connect managed connector. The database team will not turn on change data capture on that server. Which connector type does the documentation describe for this situation?
- A database connector, which reads the changes through change data capture.
- A query-based connector, which queries the source directly without CDC.
- A file source connector, which ingests exported files from file storage.
- A streaming connector, which reads the database as a message bus source.
Show the answer and explanation
Answer: B
Why this is correct
Lakeflow Connect organizes its managed connectors by source type. The connector types list includes database connectors, which ingest from relational databases using change data capture, and query-based connectors, which ingest data from databases by querying the source directly, without requiring change data capture configuration. With CDC unavailable, the query-based type fits. The architecture section adds that a query-based connector queries the source database on a schedule, without a gateway or staging storage, using a Unity Catalog connection that stores the authentication details.
Why the other options are wrong
"A database connector, which reads the changes through change data capture." … Database connectors are listed for MySQL, PostgreSQL and SQL Server using change data capture, and they include an ingestion gateway and staging storage to support continuous change capture. Without CDC on the server, this type does not apply.
"A streaming connector, which reads the database as a message bus source." … Streaming connectors continuously ingest from message buses and event streaming sources, such as RabbitMQ. A PostgreSQL server is a relational database, not a message bus.
"A file source connector, which ingests exported files from file storage." … File source connectors ingest structured and unstructured files from enterprise file storage services such as Google Drive and SharePoint. They would need someone to export the tables to files first, which is not what the analyst asked for.
When managed connectors are not enough
The same page says that if you need more control, you can use SQL and Spark APIs, which trade some automation for broader source support and customization. The ingestion overview recommends starting with the most managed layer and dropping down only when it does not meet your requirements.