What will happen if a DROP TABLE command is executed for a Delta Lake table by an admin?

When the DROP TABLE command is executed for a Delta Lake table by an admin, the correct outcome is that the table and the data will be deleted completely.

Delta Lake is built on top of Apache Parquet and provides ACID transactions, scalable metadata handling, and unifies streaming and batch data processing. When an admin performs a DROP TABLE operation in Delta Lake, it effectively removes both the table definition (the metadata) and the underlying data files associated with that table. This action is permanent and cannot be undone, emphasizing the need for caution when performing such operations, especially in production environments.

The other responses highlight different scenarios. For instance, marking data as deleted and recoverable reflects behaviors associated with soft deletes or versioned data management, rather than a complete removal. The option about data remaining in storage contradicts the fundamental operation of DROP TABLE in Delta Lake, which is to fully purge both table metadata and data from the system. Lastly, while some systems may have safeguards against accidental deletions, the question specifically addresses the behavior of Delta Lake, which does not invoke error prevention when an admin executes the DROP TABLE command.

Understanding the consequences of executing a DROP TABLE command is crucial for effective data management and ensuring that critical data is not lost inadvertently.