What is the virtual table that contains only its definition and no real data, defined by a query over real tables?

• A. Table
• B. Row
• C. Schema
• D. View

Answer: (D)

A view is a virtual table defined by a query over real tables and contains no data of its own. It stores only the query that defines it, so when you query the view, the database runs the underlying SELECT against the base tables and returns the resulting rows as if you were querying a regular table. This lets you present a simplified or restricted perspective of data without duplicating it, and it can encapsulate complex joins or filters behind a single, reusable name. In contrast, a real table holds actual rows of data. A row is a single record within a table. A schema is a namespace for organizing objects in the database and does not hold data itself.