What is the purpose of user-defined functions (UDFs) in DB2?
- To define primary keys
- To encapsulate frequently used business logic
- To enforce referential integrity
- To optimize database performance
User-defined functions (UDFs) in DB2 serve the purpose of encapsulating frequently used business logic, allowing for reusability and easier maintenance. They help in keeping the code modular and improving code readability.
Advanced capabilities for data ________ are offered by DB2.
- Integration
- Management
- Manipulation
- Warehousing
DB2 provides advanced capabilities for data management, allowing users to efficiently organize, access, and manipulate large volumes of data stored within the database. These capabilities include features for managing data integrity, ensuring consistency and accuracy across different database operations. By offering robust data management functionalities, DB2 enables organizations to effectively handle complex data requirements and optimize their data workflows.
How does the LOAD utility differ from the IMPORT utility in DB2?
- IMPORT utility allows loading data from sequential files directly into tables in DB2.
- IMPORT utility is faster than LOAD utility.
- LOAD utility allows loading data from sequential files directly into tables in DB2.
- LOAD utility is faster than IMPORT utility.
The key difference between the LOAD and IMPORT utilities in DB2 lies in their functionality and performance. The LOAD utility is primarily used for loading data from sequential files directly into tables in DB2. It is optimized for speed and is typically faster than the IMPORT utility. On the other hand, the IMPORT utility also loads data from sequential files into tables but offers more flexibility in terms of handling different file formats and data structures. It may be slower than the LOAD utility but provides additional features such as the ability to handle delimited and fixed-length files.
In DB2, partitioning is used to distribute data across ________.
- Indexes
- Nodes
- Partitions
- Tablespaces
Partitioning in DB2 refers to the division of large tables or indexes into smaller, more manageable pieces called partitions. Each partition contains a subset of the data, allowing for efficient access and management.
Scenario: A developer is tasked with retrieving data from multiple tables in DB2 using joins and subqueries. However, they encounter challenges in structuring the query correctly. How can the developer approach this problem effectively?
- Breaking down the query into smaller, manageable parts
- Refactoring the query to eliminate unnecessary joins
- Using table aliases to simplify the query
- Utilizing common table expressions (CTEs)
Breaking down the query into smaller, manageable parts allows the developer to focus on individual components, making it easier to understand and debug. This approach also helps in optimizing the query by identifying performance bottlenecks in each part.
Automatic failover mechanisms in DB2 are designed to ensure ________ access to data.
- Consistent
- Continuous
- Reliable
- Timely
Automatic failover mechanisms in DB2 are intended to ensure reliable access to data. Reliability is crucial for ensuring uninterrupted access to databases, especially in scenarios where system failures occur.
A large-scale data migration is planned in a DB2 database. How can the Runstats utility be utilized to ensure data integrity and optimize query performance after the migration?
- Implement triggers on the migrated tables to automatically update statistics whenever changes occur
- Manually adjust the query plans for migrated queries to optimize performance
- Run Runstats on all migrated tables and indexes to update statistics and ensure accuracy of optimizer decisions
- Use the Runstats utility to schedule periodic backups of the migrated data to guard against potential data loss or corruption
Running Runstats on migrated tables and indexes updates statistical information, enabling the query optimizer to make informed decisions about query execution plans. This helps maintain data integrity by ensuring accurate statistics reflecting the newly migrated data. Scheduling backups using Runstats does not directly contribute to data integrity or performance optimization but rather aids in data protection. Triggers for updating statistics may introduce unnecessary overhead and complexity, whereas manually adjusting query plans is impractical and error-prone, especially for large-scale migrations.
Which statement about the XML structure in DB2 is true?
- XML documents in DB2 are always stored as text
- XML documents in DB2 cannot be queried
- XML documents in DB2 cannot have attributes
- XML documents in DB2 follow a hierarchical structure
The true statement about the XML structure in DB2 is that XML documents follow a hierarchical structure. In DB2, XML documents are represented in a hierarchical format where elements are nested within each other to represent the relationships between different parts of the data. This hierarchical structure allows for the representation of complex data models and facilitates efficient querying and manipulation of XML data in DB2.
How does DB2 handle cursor positioning when dealing with large result sets?
- DB2 buffers the entire result set in memory
- DB2 optimizes cursor positioning using indexing
- DB2 retrieves rows one by one from the disk
- DB2 utilizes prefetching to optimize cursor positioning
DB2 employs prefetching techniques to optimize cursor positioning when dealing with large result sets. Prefetching involves retrieving multiple rows from the database in advance and storing them in memory. This approach reduces the number of disk I/O operations and minimizes the latency associated with fetching data. By prefetching rows, DB2 ensures that the cursor can quickly access the next set of rows, enhancing the overall performance of data retrieval operations.
What is the primary purpose of a table in a database?
- Organizing Data
- Processing Data
- Retrieving Data
- Storing Data
The primary purpose of a table in a database is to store data in a structured format. Tables consist of rows and columns, with each row representing a record and each column representing a field or attribute. Storing data in tables allows for efficient organization and retrieval of information, facilitating data management and analysis.