By default, does COPY purge loaded files from the location?

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Only for staged files
• D. Only when using purge

Answer: (A)

When loading data, the PURGE option controls what happens to the source files in the stage after a successful load. If purge is enabled, Snowflake deletes those files from the stage once the data has been loaded into the table, which helps prevent reloading the same files and keeps the stage clean. This purge happens only after a successful load; if the load fails, the files remain in place for troubleshooting. If you want to keep the original files for auditing or reprocessing, set PURGE to FALSE.