What is one benefit of using prepared statements in Cassandra?

Using prepared statements in Cassandra provides significant benefits, and one of the key advantages is that they precompile the query structure. When a prepared statement is created, Cassandra parses and compiles the query into an execution plan, which prepares the system to execute it efficiently. This precompilation means that the same query can be executed multiple times with different parameters without the need to re-parse the query each time, leading to improved performance and reduced latency.

Additionally, precompiled queries can enhance security, as they help separate the query structure from the data being input, thus minimizing the risk of errors and potential vulnerabilities that often arise from dynamic query generation. This distinguishes prepared statements from other methods where the query might be susceptible to injection attacks.

In contrast, the other options do not accurately describe the benefits of prepared statements. For instance, prepared statements do not allow for raw SQL queries, they actually reduce the risk of SQL injection through parameterized inputs, and they do not require manual optimization but rather are optimized by the system upon creation.