Explain the difference between a clustered index and a non-clustered index in SQL Server.
Explain the difference between a clustered index and a non-clustered index in SQL Server.
17716-May-2023
Updated on 16-May-2023
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I am Gautam Ramesh from Uttar Pradesh. Have completed my B. Tech. course from MNNIT campus Prayagraj in 2022. I have good knowledge of computer networking.
Aryan Kumar
16-May-2023A clustered index is a special type of index in SQL Server that physically orders the data in a table. A non-clustered index is an index that does not physically order the data in a table, but instead stores a pointer to the data in the clustered index.
In SQL Server, each table can have only one clustered index. The clustered index is used to physically order the data in the table, and all queries against the table are executed against the clustered index.
A non-clustered index can be created on any column or set of columns in a table. Non-clustered indexes are used to improve the performance of queries that are frequently executed against a specific column or set of columns.
The main difference between a clustered index and a non-clustered index is that a clustered index physically orders the data in a table, while a non-clustered index does not.
Here is a table that summarizes the differences between clustered indexes and non-clustered indexes: