When cloning a database or schema, what happens to data files in the source tables' internal stages?

• A. They are copied to the clone
• B. They are not copied to the clone
• C. They are partially copied
• D. They are moved to the clone

Answer: (B)

Zero-copy cloning creates a new database or schema by duplicating metadata and pointers to the same underlying data, not by duplicating physical files. The data that resides in a table’s internal stages is stored as separate stage objects and is not duplicated when you make a clone. As a result, the clone shares the same base data blocks, but the files in the source’s internal stages remain in place and are not copied into the clone. If you need those staged files in the clone, you would have to re-stage or copy them explicitly. This is why the correct choice is that the data files in the source tables’ internal stages are not copied to the clone.