Question

A data engineer runs `CREATE TABLE sales_summary AS SELECT region, SUM(amount) AS total FROM silver.orders GROUP BY region` in a Databricks SQL notebook without specifying a LOCATION. The catalog and schema are configured with default settings. Where will the underlying data files for sales_summary be stored, and what happens if the table is later dropped?

Accepted Answer

Files are stored in the metastore's managed storage location, and dropping the table deletes both the metadata and the underlying data files.

Answer

Files are stored in the metastore's managed storage location, but dropping the table only removes the metadata while leaving data files intact.

Answer

No files are stored because CTAS creates only a view, so dropping it removes the query definition but no data.

Answer

Files are stored in a user-specified external path, and dropping the table removes only the metadata.