If you drop a managed Delta table whose data resides in a folder, what happens to the table and data?

If you drop a managed Delta table whose data resides in a folder, what happens to the table and data?

• A. The table definition is removed from the metastore, but the data files remain intact.
• B. The table metadata and data files are deleted.
• C. The data files are deleted, leaving the table metadata intact.
• D. The table metadata and data files are deleted.

Answer: (D)

Dropping a managed Delta table removes both the table’s metadata and its data. In a managed table, the system controls the table’s storage location and the metastore entry. When you drop the table, the metastore entry is deleted and the entire directory that holds the table data (including the Delta transaction log and all data files) is removed. This is different from external tables, where dropping only removes the metadata and leaves the underlying data intact. So both the metadata and the data files disappear.

Dropping a managed Delta table removes both the table’s metadata and its data. In a managed table, the system controls the table’s storage location and the metastore entry. When you drop the table, the metastore entry is deleted and the entire directory that holds the table data (including the Delta transaction log and all data files) is removed. This is different from external tables, where dropping only removes the metadata and leaves the underlying data intact. So both the metadata and the data files disappear.