What are the differences between clustered and a non-clustered index?

Indexes are also look like book index it is easy to identify.In clusterd index leaf node points to the actual data while in non-clusterd index the leaf node uses the clusterd index to locate data.

A Clustered Index defines the way how Data is Physically Stored on your Disk. A Clustered Index is usually created on the Primary Column of the table. There can be only1 Clustered Index on a table.

A Non Clustered Index is usually created on a Non Primary Column of a table which is used to fetch the data faster when the Search is made on non primary column. There can be more than1 Non Clustered Index on a table.

In case if you need any further clarification, please let me know.

Thanks,

Jay J. Joshi

Clustered index is the one which gets creates automatically along with your primary key field on it if it has one, at the creation of that particular table itself, purpose of the clustered index is the physical storage of data and the retrieving data is faster because of the index.   There is only one clustered index on the table. You can also create clustered index by create index index_name ...  on the primary key field of the table.

Non-clustered Index - this is a logical index can be created on any field of the table for the purpose of retrieving data in a quicker way. Many clustered index can be created on one table, but I think there is a limit of256 or so, I could not remember the number exactly now.

test question by hadeel123456