Splunk Enterprise Certified Admin Practice Test

What type of data does the _raw key refer to in Splunk?

1. Event data

2. Metric data

3. Index data

4. Source type data

The correct answer is: Event data

The _raw key in Splunk refers specifically to event data. In Splunk, when data is indexed, it consists of various key-value pairs that are generated for each event being ingested. The _raw key captures the original, unmodified data of that event, which represents the complete payload as it was received. Event data encompasses any information that can be distinguished as a discrete occurrence captured in a specific time context, such as log entries, sensor data, or transaction details. By preserving the original form of the data within the _raw field, Splunk allows users to analyze, search, and visualize the events effectively without losing any context or detail. The other options such as metric data, index data, and source type data refer to different concepts within Splunk's data model. Metric data refers to numerical values collected over time for monitoring performance but is not encompassed under the _raw key. Index data is more about how the data is stored and organized within Splunk's indexing structure. Source type data pertains to the categorization of incoming data based on its format or structure, which helps Splunk apply the appropriate data parsing methods, but it is separate from the phrasing of the raw event data itself.