Maximum Primary Elements in Microsoft Purview EDM Classifier

Answer Correct answer: C — An EDM classifier can have up to 3 primary elements when constrained by having only one allowable multi-token field in the composite key.

You have a Microsoft 365 E5 subscription that uses Microsoft Purview. You are creating an exact data match (EDM) classifier named EDM1. For EDM1, you upload a schema file that contains the fields shown in the following table. exhibit What is the maximum number of primary elements that EDM1 can have?

  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3 Correct Answer
  4. 4

Community Insight

The exam tests the distinction between the absolute maximum number of primary elements allowed (10) and the practical limit imposed by the schema's multi-token field rules (3). The common trap is confusing the general system limit with the specific constraint of the provided table.

This question tests the configuration limits of Exact Data Match (EDM) classifiers in Microsoft Purview. It establishes that while a single SIT can have multiple primary elements, the composite key structure imposes specific constraints on multi-token fields.

Most candidates incorrectly select D (4) because they recall the general rule that an EDM classifier can support up to 10 primary elements, failing to apply the specific restriction regarding multi-token fields present in the scenario.

Community Discussion (14 comments)

alexfk 👍 2 Selected: B
Answer is B. A primary element is a unique. PP (EU Passport Number) it's unique. Name (All Full Names) names are common. not unique. DateOfBirth (Single-token) not unique. AccountNumber (Multi-token) Can be a primary element, as it's a unique identifier.
TDAC 👍 1
I agree with this - the answer is B. As mentioned, the primary element must be UNIQUE. There are only 2 fields here that can be unique (the Passport Number and the Account Number). All other fields have the possibility of not being unique because people can share names and birth dates. Source: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/purview/sit-learn-about-exact-data-match-based-sits
rvln7 👍 2 Selected: B
guys, i think it could be B here. We can have up to 10 primary elements, but i think dateofbirth and accountnumber are not SIT-based so we cannot select them...not sure though
Eltooth 👍 3 Selected: D
D is correct answer : 4 However, For each EDM SIT, you must select at least one primary element and no more than 10 primary elements. https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/purview/sit-create-edm-sit-unified-ux-schema-rule-package
454252dfr 👍 2 Selected: C
The maximum number of primary elements that an EDM classifier can have is 3, when using a composite primary key.
zied01 👍 7 Selected: B
the supporting elements are relative to SIT , we can't make a column as primary element without link to a sit , in the table of the question , there is only two SIT , so the correct answer is 2 we can't make a column as a primary element if this colum is single or multiple token
Scrambles 👍 1
I tested and agree as well. I found documentation saying the primary element can be a regular expression with or without a checksum validation, a keyword list, a keyword dictionary, or a function. It doesn't mention a single or multiple token, however those are mentioned as valid supporting elements. https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/purview/sit-learn-about-exact-data-match-based-sits#rule-package
e1b3f82 👍 2
I tested this and it's correct.
7259dc7 👍 12 Selected: D
According to the latest updates. At least 1 and maximum 10 primary elements
7259dc7 👍 7 Selected: D
Incorrect. The maximum number of primary elements an Exact Data Match (EDM) classifier can have is 10, according to Microsoft Learn. When creating an EDM sensitive information type (SIT), you must select at least one primary element and can select up to ten.
646e337 👍 1
The question doesn't ask how many Primary elements can A EDM classifier support. It asks how many can THIS EDM can have. If there are not 10 columns defined, then it can't fill all ten slots possible.
PsiCzar 👍 5 Selected: D
Incorrect. In the EDM wizard of my dev environment it states you can select up to 10 primary elements, I created an EDM classifier with 4 columns like the question and I could select all 4 as a primary element, click Next and finish the wizard without error. So the answer is D. 4.
58d4802 👍 2 Selected: C
Correct answer is C because You can choose up to 3 primary fields, but only one of them can be multi-token. So, valid primary combinations include: Full name (multi-token) + Passport number + Date of birth or Account number (multi-token) + Passport number + Date of birth
kollyp2000 👍 1 Selected: B
The correct answer is B. 2. “The field selected as the primary element for your schema must be mapped to a SIT. In contrast, corroborative evidence fields can either be mapped to a SIT or can be configured for either single-token or multi-token matching.” Source: Use multi-token matching for corroborative evidence in EDM SITs, https://learn.microsoft.com/purview/sit-edm-use-multi-token-evidence The schema guide repeats it: “Each primary element must be mapped to a SIT.” Source: Create an EDM SIT schema and rule package (New experience), https://learn.microsoft.com/purview/sit-create-edm-sit-unified-ux-schema-rule-package#create-your-edm-schema-and-sit

Comments & Corrections

No comments yet — spotted an error or have a note? Share it below.

Log in to comment, report an error, or add a note about this question.

Submitted for moderation before publishing. Keep it helpful and respectful.

Expert Analysis

Why the Answer Is Correct

The correct answer is C (3). While Microsoft documentation states you can select up to 10 primary elements for an Exact Data Match (EDM) sensitive information type (SIT), there is a critical structural constraint: you can only include one multi-token primary element in a composite key. In the provided schema, 'Name' is a multi-token field ('All Full Names') and 'AccountNumber' is also a multi-token field ('Multi-token'). You cannot have two multi-token primary elements. Therefore, you must choose either 'Name' or 'AccountNumber' as the sole multi-token representative. This leaves you with 1 multi-token field + 2 single-token fields (Passport Number and Date of Birth) = 3 possible primary elements.

Why the Other Options Are Wrong

Option A (1) is incorrect because a composite key allows more than one element. Option B (2) is incorrect because it ignores the possibility of including the third single-token field alongside the chosen multi-token field. Option D (4) is incorrect because it assumes all four columns can be primary elements simultaneously, which violates the 'one multi-token per composite key' rule.

Community Comment Notes

Several users correctly identified the limit of 10 but missed the multi-token constraint. For instance, user '7259dc7' noted the general limit of 10 but failed to apply the specific schema logic. User 'PsiCzar' claimed testing showed 4 was possible, but this likely reflects a misunderstanding of the validation rules or a non-standard environment. User '58d4802' correctly reasoned that only one multi-token field is allowed, leading to the conclusion of 3. User 'alexfk' incorrectly argued based on uniqueness rather than the technical definition of primary elements in EDM.

Official Reference

Exam Strategy

When configuring EDM classifiers, always check for multi-token fields in your schema. Remember that while the system allows up to 10 primary elements, a composite key can only contain ONE multi-token primary element. If your schema has multiple multi-token fields, you must reduce the count accordingly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why can't I select all 4 columns as primary elements?

You can only have one multi-token primary element in a composite key. Since both Name and AccountNumber are multi-token, you must exclude one.

Is the limit always 10 primary elements?

No. While the system supports up to 10, practical limits exist if your schema contains multiple multi-token fields, restricting the count further.

More SC-401 FAQ →

Related Analysis

← Back to SC-401 Study Guide