CompTIA Data+ DA0-002 (V2) Practice Question

The correct answer is Timestamp. The TIMESTAMP data type is ideal for global applications because it stores date and time values by converting them from the client's time zone to a standardized format, typically Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). When the data is retrieved, it can be converted back to the local time zone of the session, ensuring all events are comparable on a single timeline.

• DATETIME is incorrect because it typically stores the literal date and time value ('YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM:SS') without any time zone information. This can lead to ambiguity when data is collected from multiple time zones, making accurate chronological analysis difficult.
• String (e.g., VARCHAR) is incorrect because storing dates as text is inefficient, prone to formatting errors, and makes date/time calculations and sorting computationally expensive and complex.
• Integer is incorrect because while one could store time as a Unix timestamp (an integer representing seconds since the epoch), the Timestamp data type is specifically designed for this purpose, offering better readability and more powerful built-in functions for date and time manipulation within the database.