Individual external named stages can be cloned.

• A. False
• B. True
• C. External stages cannot be cloned
• D. Only internal stages can be cloned

Answer: (B)

The ability to clone external named stages comes from how Snowflake treats cloning as a metadata-only, zero-copy operation. External named stages are metadata objects that point to external storage and carry details like the storage location, credentials, and the associated file format. Because cloning duplicates the object’s metadata rather than the data itself, you can create a new stage that is a mirror of an existing external named stage. The clone will reference the same external location and file format by default, so both stages access the same underlying files without duplicating any data. This makes it quick and cost-effective to have separate stage objects for testing or development while keeping the actual data in external storage unchanged. If you want to point the clone to a different path or adjust its file format, you can modify the clone after creation.