Ask questions of files in a bucket — Athena and S3

Your goal

Create a query workgroup and set a per-query data-scan limit.

Why this matters

Queries over stored files need a results location and a limit on scanned data. You will configure a workgroup and its scan cutoff. No SQL query or real billing calculation is performed.

Words you will use

SQL is a language for asking questions about tables. Athena can query data in S3. A schema describes the fields. A partition groups data, often by date.

How to proceed

Start a fresh emulator, read each numbered step, and enter the practice settings shown. Run the action, inspect its API receipt, then continue. Finish lab checks the emulator state again before saving your progress.

1. Create a workgroup and result bucket

Create a bucket for query output and an Athena workgroup that uses it. A workgroup groups query settings; it does not supply the source data by itself.

2. Set a scan limit

Enter a limit in MiB and save it on the workgroup. This controls a query setting, not an exact monthly bill. The next step reads the configured byte value.

Per-query scan limit in MiB: Choose 10–1000 MiB. The request converts this value to bytes. Suggested practice value: 100.

3. Inspect the query guardrail

Get the workgroup and compare its scan limit with your input. The lab checks the actual saved setting rather than pretending a query scanned a particular amount of data.

Practice, then check your understanding

Perform the actions yourself and inspect the returned state. Errors keep your settings so you can retry. Starting another lab clears the previous live environment. Earned XP is kept, and signed-in achievements sync to your account. Replay does not award duplicate XP.

Read the official AWS documentation for service behavior and production details.