You have run an SQL statement that asked the DBMS to display data in a table named USER_TABLES. The results include columns of data labeled "TableName," "NumberOfColumns" and "PrimaryKey." You are looking at ________ .

Solution (By Examveda Team)

Option A: user data
User data refers to the actual data stored in the database by users. This includes the information within the records of the database tables. In this context, user data would mean the specific entries in the USER_TABLES table, such as the names of the tables created by users, the number of columns in each table, and the primary keys. However, this option is not the best fit since the columns mentioned are more about the structure rather than the actual data.

Option B: metadata
Metadata is data about data. It provides information about other data, such as the structure, operations, and constraints of the data within the database. In this case, "TableName," "NumberOfColumns," and "PrimaryKey" are metadata because they describe the structure and properties of the tables in the database. This is the most accurate description of what you are looking at when you see these columns.

Option C: A report
A report is a formatted and organized presentation of data extracted from the database. While the result of the SQL statement can be considered a simple form of a report, this option is too broad and doesn't specifically describe the nature of the data being viewed. It doesn’t specifically capture the essence of what "TableName," "NumberOfColumns," and "PrimaryKey" represent.

Option D: indexes
Indexes are database objects that improve the speed of data retrieval operations. They do not describe the structure of the tables but rather assist in quickly locating data within the tables. The columns "TableName," "NumberOfColumns," and "PrimaryKey" do not pertain to indexes but rather describe the tables themselves.

Conclusion: The correct answer is Option B: metadata since "TableName," "NumberOfColumns," and "PrimaryKey" describe the structure and properties of the tables in the database, which is metadata.