Which statement about search access path changes when modifying columns is true?

• A. Renaming a column doesn't require any changes to the search access path
• B. Adding a column requires manual update to the search access path
• C. Dropping a column requires manual update to the search access path
• D. All operations automatically update the search access path

Answer: (A)

The key idea is that the search access path is tied to the column’s internal reference, not its label. Renaming a column only updates the visible name in metadata, while the underlying column identifier and its position in the table don’t change. Because the engine still points to the same internal column, the search access path remains valid and no manual update is needed.

Adding a column introduces a new piece of metadata and can affect how queries access the table, so you’d typically need to account for that in the access path or downstream objects. Dropping a column removes metadata and can require adjustments to views, procedures, or queries that referenced it. Automatic updates aren’t guaranteed for these cases.

Thus, renaming is the change that doesn’t require changes to the search access path.