suresh What is the difference between a clustered and non-clustered index in a database?
In a database, a clustered index defines the physical order of data in a table, where the rows are stored in the underlying table in the same order as the index. This means that a table can have only one clustered index, and modifying the clustered index can physically reorder the rows in the table.
On the other hand, a non-clustered index does not define the physical order of data in a table. Instead, it stores the index key values and pointers to the actual data rows in a separate structure, allowing for multiple non-clustered indexes to be created on a single table. This makes non-clustered indexes flexible and efficient for retrieving specific data quickly.
In summary, the main difference between a clustered and non-clustered index is how the data is physically stored in the database and how the index affects the performance of data retrieval operations.
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