Clustered and Non clustered indexes are stored in B-Tree Structure.
Clustered Index
Clustered Index
- Clustered index enforce the logical order. (Misconception: Clustered index does not enforce the physical order)
- A table has only one clustered index because, the original table stored in leaf level of the clustered index (Data pages).
- When you create a primary key by default clustered index will be created internally.(If the table has clustered index already then the non clustered index will be created internally)
- If the table does not has clustered index it’s called “Heap”
Non Clustered Index
- Non clustered indexes are separate storage. (I.e. original table and an index stored separately)
- Non clustered index does not enforce the logical order. The physical order of the rows is not the same as the index order.
- A table has 999 non clustered indexes in sql-2008, 249 non clustered indexes prior to 2008.
- When you create a unique key by default non clustered index will be created internally.
