Which file format option specifies how dates are parsed in the input data?

• A. TIME_FORMAT
• B. DATE
• C. PARSE_DATE
• D. DATE_FORMAT

Answer: (D)

Dates in input data are parsed according to the file format’s formatting rules. The DATE_FORMAT option in a file format tells Snowflake how to interpret date strings as actual dates when loading data. By supplying a pattern such as 'YYYY-MM-DD' or 'MM/DD/YYYY', you align the parser with the string representation in your file, preventing misinterpretation or errors. The other options correspond to different kinds of formatting: TIME_FORMAT controls time values, not dates; DATE is a data type, not a configuration for parsing; PARSE_DATE isn’t a file format option here—you would typically convert or cast strings to dates using a function with an explicit format. As a result, the correct setting is DATE_FORMAT.