Which kind of Snowflake table stores file-level metadata for each file in a stage?

A Directory Table is a specific, built-in feature in Snowflake designed to store a catalog of files located in a stage (either internal or external). When enabled for a stage, the directory table automatically stores file-level metadata, such as the file name, size, and last modified timestamp. This allows users to query the list of files and their properties within the stage using standard SQL, which is crucial for managing data pipelines and observing the state of staged data without having to list files using external tools.

B. External: An external table is used to query data within files in an external stage as if it were a regular table, not to catalog the files themselves.
C. Temporary: A temporary table exists only for the duration of a user session to store non-permanent data and has no inherent link to stage metadata.
D. Transient: A transient table is a persistent table that lacks a Fail-safe period; its purpose is unrelated to storing metadata about files in a stage.

1. Snowflake Documentation: Directory Tables. This document explicitly states, "A directory table is a built-in table that stores a catalog of staged files in a cloud storage location... Each row in the directory table represents a file in the stage and stores metadata about the file."

2. Snowflake Documentation: Overview of Tables. This page describes the different types of tables (Permanent, Temporary, Transient), none of which are designed for storing stage file metadata by default.

3. Snowflake Documentation: Introduction to External Tables. This resource clarifies that external tables are for querying data in staged files, stating, "External tables let you query data stored in files in an external stage as if the data were inside a database." This distinguishes their purpose from that of directory tables.