Ask Sawal

Discussion Forum
Notification Icon1
Write Answer Icon
Add Question Icon

Islam Omnia




Posted Answers



Answer


(Image Source)

The key difference between clustered indexes and non clustered indexes is that the leaf level of the clustered index is the table. This has two implications.

Non clustered indexes can also do point 1 by using the INCLUDE clause (Since SQL Server 2005) to explicitly include all non-key columns but they are secondary representations and there is always another copy of the data around (the table itself).

The two indexes above will be nearly identical. With the upper-level index pages containing values for the key columns A, B and the leaf level pages containing A, B, C, D

The above quote from SQL Server books online causes much confusion

In my opinion, it would be much better phrased as.

The book's online quote is not incorrect but you should be clear that the "sorting" of both non clustered and clustered indices is logical, not physical. If you read the pages at leaf level by following the linked list and read the rows on the page in slot array order then you will read the index rows in sorted order but physically the pages may not be sorted. The commonly held belief that with a clustered index the rows are always stored physically on the disk in the same order as the index key is false.

This would be an absurd implementation. For example, if a row is inserted into the middle of a 4GB table SQL Server does not have to copy 2GB of data up in the file to make room for the newly inserted row.

Instead, a page split occurs. Each page at the leaf level of both clustered and non clustered indexes has the address (File: Page) of the next and previous page in logical key order. These pages need not be either contiguous or in key order.

e.g. the linked page chain might be 1:2000 <-> 1:157 <-> 1:7053

When a page split happens a new page is allocated from anywhere in the filegroup (from either a mixed extent, for small tables or a non-empty uniform extent belonging to that object or a newly allocated uniform extent). This might not even be in the same file if the filegroup contains more than one.

The degree to which the logical order and contiguity differ from the idealized physical version is the degree of logical fragmentation.

In a newly created database with a single file, I ran the following.

Then checked the page layout with

The results were all over the place. The first row in key order (with value 1 - highlighted with an arrow below) was on nearly the last physical page.

Fragmentation can be reduced or removed by rebuilding or reorganizing an index to increase the correlation between logical order and physical order.

After running

I got the following

If the table has no clustered index it is called a heap.

Non clustered indexes can be built on either a heap or a clustered index. They always contain a row locator back to the base table. In the case of a heap, this is a physical row identifier (rid) and consists of three components (File:Page: Slot). In the case of a Clustered index, the row locator is logical (the clustered index key).

For the latter case if the non clustered index already naturally includes the CI key column(s) either as NCI key columns or INCLUDE-d columns then nothing is added. Otherwise, the missing CI key column(s) silently gets added to the NCI.

SQL Server always ensures that the key columns are unique for both types of indexes. The mechanism in which this is enforced for indexes not declared as unique differs between the two index types, however.


Answer is posted for the following question.

What is clustered index?

Answer


How to block spam texts on iPhone; Add extra protection with Avast Free Antivirus Of course, spammers don't stop


Answer is posted for the following question.

How to stop vzw free msg?

Answer


Mobile Phones Under Rs 20,000 ; SAMSUNG Galaxy F12 (Sea Green, 64 GB) · SAMSUNG Galaxy F12 (Sea Green, 64 GB) · 2,20,518 Ratings · 17,512 Reviews ; SAMSUNG Galaxy


Answer is posted for the following question.

Which is best phone under 20000?

Answer


The quick-detach (QD) connector is a variation of the Swivel Loop & Stud design that allows the sling and connector to be removed at the press of a button. Quick-detach mounts are ideal for moving a sling from one rifle to the next , or frequently reconfiguring which mounting points.

Source: www.at3tactical.com


Answer is posted for the following question.

How do qd sling mounts work?

Answer


Sunshine Sage Tea and Tonic Bar

Address: 55 Lake St, Cairns City QLD 4870, Australia


Answer is posted for the following question.

Which are the best green tea in Cairns, Australia?

Answer


Download apps like wynk ,hungama,gaana etc from the storeAvail premium membership and then you can download unlimited songs in these appsIf you are an airtel


Answer is posted for the following question.

How to song download in phone?

Answer


MISSOULA St Patrick Hospital in Missoula has been named the best hospital in the state for the third year in a row


Answer is posted for the following question.

Where is best medical in Montana?

Answer


  1. Open the Google Pay app . If you're not already signed in to your account, sign in.
  2. At the bottom, tap Insights .
  3. Tap Money in Google Pay .
  4. Tap Complete Verification.
  5. Confirm your personal information: Name. Address. Date of birth. Social Security number.
  6. At the bottom, tap Confirm.

Answer is posted for the following question.

How to verify gpay account?


Wait...