A cloned object is considered a new object in Snowflake.

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Only for certain object types
• D. Depends on environment

Answer: (A)

In Snowflake, cloning uses zero-copy technology to create a separate object with its own identity in the catalog while sharing the same underlying data until changes are made. The clone represents the exact state of the source at the moment of cloning, but it can evolve independently from there.

Because it has its own name, metadata, and lifecycle (grants, time travel scope, etc.), the cloned object is treated as a distinct object in Snowflake. You can manage the clone separately from the source, drop it without affecting the original, and branch off for testing, development, or experimentation without duplicating data.

This behavior applies broadly to the types Snowflake supports for cloning (such as databases, schemas, and tables), and it isn’t dependent on a particular environment. The key idea is that a clone is a new, separate object that shares data storage until modifications occur.