What does the dbt run --full-refresh option do?

The option that states “It forces dbt to drop and recreate tables” accurately captures the functionality of the dbt run --full-refresh command. This command is particularly useful in scenarios where you want to ensure that your data is completely refreshed and any previous data in the tables is removed before the new data is inserted.

When you use the --full-refresh flag, dbt drops the existing tables corresponding to the models you are running and then recreates them from scratch. This is essential when the underlying data has significantly changed, or if you want to reset your models to their original state without any remnants of prior runs.

In contrast, the other options do not align with what the --full-refresh command accomplishes. For example, the assertion that it speeds up the run time is inaccurate, as a full refresh often takes longer than a regular run because of the additional steps involved in dropping and recreating tables. The notion that it restricts runs to a selected subset of models does not apply as --full-refresh is typically used for all models being run. Lastly, dbt does not initiate a backup before running when using this distinct option, as the focus is exclusively on table recreation rather than data preservation.