In the vast landscape of database management systems, Azure Cosmos DB stands out as a powerful and versatile solution, capable of handling globally distributed, multi-model data at scale. Yet, even with such a cutting-edge technology, the importance of a seemingly simple decision cannot be overstated: choosing the right partition key.

Parquet format is a columnar storage format that has gained immense popularity in the big data world. Recently, Microsoft Fabric has also started supporting the Parquet format. This format is optimized for query performance and takes up less space on disk and in memory. It is an open-source format that is supported by many big data processing frameworks like Apache Spark, Hive, and Impala.

Shortcuts in Microsoft Fabric offer a paradigm shift in data virtualization and management. With its ability to seamlessly integrate data across domains and clouds, eliminate duplication, and simplify data utilization, shortcuts empower organizations to maximize the value of their data.

In the realm of data management, three terms often pop up: Databases, Data Warehouses, and Data Lakes. These concepts can be complex and confusing, but fear not! we'll shed light on the key differences between these three and help you navigate the decision-making process.