Which term refers to a data file with no relational structure among its records?

• A. Spreadsheet
• B. Flat File
• C. Database
• D. Datafile

Answer: (B)

Think about how data is organized. A flat file stores records in a simple, one-record-per-line format with fields separated by delimiters, and there are no built-in relationships between those records. There are no keys or linked tables to define how records relate to one another, which means the data isn’t organized relationally. Databases enforce relationships with tables and keys, and spreadsheets, while tabular, don’t inherently establish relational links the way a relational database does. So, the term that describes a data file with no relational structure among its records is a flat file.