When
I first started using SQL Server as a novice, I was initially confused as to
the differences between clustered and non-clustered indexes. As a developer,
and new DBA, I took it upon myself to learn everything I could about these
index types with the help of my friend, and when they should be used. This article is a result of my
learning and experience, and explains the differences between clustered and
non-clustered index data structures for the DBA or developer new to SQL Server.
If you are new to SQL Server, I hope you find this article useful.
As
you read this article, if you choose, you can cut and paste the code I have
provided in order to more fully understand and appreciate the differences
between clustered and non-clustered indexes.
Part I: Non-Clustered Index
Creating a Table
To
better explain SQL Server non-clustered indexes; let’s start by creating a new
table and populating it with some sample data using the following scripts. I
assume you have a database you can use for this. If not, you will want to
create one for these examples.
Create
Table DummyTable1
(
EmpId Int,
EmpName Varchar(8000)
)
When
you first create a new table, there is no index created by default. In
technical terms, a table without an index is called a “heap”. We can confirm
the fact that this new table doesn’t have an index by taking a look at the
sysindexes system table, which contains one for this table with an of indid =
0. The sysindexes table, which exists in every database, tracks table and index
information. “Indid” refers to Index ID, and is used to identify indexes. An
indid of 0 means that a table does not have an index, and is stored by SQL
Server as a heap.
Now
let’s add a few records in this table using this script:
Insert
Into DummyTable1 Values (4, Replicate ('d',2000))
GO
Insert
Into DummyTable1 Values (6, Replicate ('f',2000))
GO
Insert
Into DummyTable1 Values (1, Replicate ('a',2000))
GO
Insert
Into DummyTable1 Values (3, Replicate ('c',2000))
GO
Now,
let’s view the contests of the table by executing the following command in
Query Analyzer for our new table.
Select
EmpID From DummyTable1
GO
As
you would expect, the data we inserted earlier has been displayed. Note that
the order of the results is in the same order that I inserted them in, which is
in no order at all.
Now,
let’s execute the following commands to display the actual page information for
the table we created and is now stored in SQL Server.
dbcc ind(dbid, tabid, -1) –
This is an undocumented command.
DBCC
TRACEON (3604)
GO
Declare
@DBID Int, @TableID Int
Select @DBID = db_id(), @TableID = object_id('DummyTable1')
DBCC ind(@DBID, @TableID, -1)
GO
This
script will display many columns, but we are only interested in three of them,
as shown below.
PagePID
|
IndexID
|
PageType
|
26408
|
0
|
10
|
26255
|
0
|
1
|
26409
|
0
|
1
|
Here’s
what the information displayed means:
PagePID
is the physical page numbers used to store the table. In this case, three pages
are currently used to store the data.
IndexID
is the type of index,
Where:
0
– Datapage
1
– Clustered Index
2
– Greater and equal to 2 is an Index page (Non-Clustered Index and ordinary
index),
PageType
tells you what kind of data is stored in each database,
Where:
10
– IAM (Index Allocation MAP)
1
– Datapage
2
– Index page
Now,
let us execute DBCC PAGE command. This is an undocumented command.
DBCC
page(dbid, fileno, pageno, option)
Where:
dbid
= database id.
Fileno
= fileno of the page. Usually it will be 1, unless we use more than one
file for a database.
Pageno
= we can take the output of the dbcc ind
page no.
Option
= it can be 0, 1, 2, 3. I use 3 to get a display of the data. You can try
yourself for the other options.
Run
this script to execute the command:
DBCC
TRACEON (3604)
GO
DBCC
page(@DBID, 1, 26408, 3)
GO
The
output will be page allocation details.
DBCC
TRACEON (3604)
GO
dbcc
page(@DBID, 1, 26255, 3)
GO
The
data will be displayed in the order it was entered in the table. This is how
SQL stores the data in pages. Actually, 26255 & 26409 both display
the data page.
I
have displayed the data page information for page 26255 only. This is how MS
SQL stores the contents in data pages as such column name with its respective
value.
Record
Type = PRIMARY_RECORD
EmpId =
4
EmpName =
ddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd
ddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd
ddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd
ddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd
ddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd
Record
Type =
PRIMARY_RECORD
EmpId
= 6
EmpName =
ffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffff
ffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffff
ffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffff
ffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffff
Record
Type = PRIMARY_RECORD
EmpId =
1
EmpName =
aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
This
displays the exact data storage in SQL, without any index on table. Now, let’s
go and create a unique non-clustered index on the EmpID column.
Creating a Non-Clustered
Index
Now,
we will create a unique non-clustered index on the empid column to see how it
affects the data, and how the data is stored in SQL Server.
CREATE
UNIQUE NONCLUSTERED INDEX DummyTable1_empid
ON DummyTable1 (empid)
GO
Now,
execute the DBCC ind
(dbid, tabid, -1)
DBCC
TRACEON (3604)
GO
Declare
@DBID Int, @TableID Int
Select @DBID = db_id(), @TableID = object_id('DummyTable1')
DBCC ind(@DBID, @TableID, -1)
GO
Here
are the results:
PagePID
|
IndexID
|
PageType
|
26408
|
0
|
10
|
26255
|
0
|
1
|
26409
|
0
|
1
|
26411
|
2
|
10
|
26410
|
2
|
2
|
Now,
we see two more rows than before, which now contains index page details. Page
26408 displays the page allocation details, and pages 26255 and 26409 display
the data page details, as before.
In
regard to the new pages, page 26411 displays the page allocation details of an
index page and page 26410 displays the index page details.
MS
SQL generates a page (pagetype = 10) for an index and explains the page
allocation details for an index. It shows the number of index page have been
occupied for an index.
Let
us see what would be the output for page 26411, that is page type = 10
IAM:
Single Page Allocations @0x308A608E
-----------------------------------------
Slot 0 =
(1:26410)
Let
us view page 26410 to see the index page details.
DBCC
TRACEON (3604)
GO
DBCC
page(10, 1, 26410, 3)
GO
SQL
populates the index column data in order. The last column (?) is pointed to the row locator.
Here
are the results, using two different methods:
Method I
FileID
|
PageID
|
EMPID
|
?
|
1
|
26410
|
1
|
0x8F66000001000200
|
1
|
26410
|
3
|
0x2967000001000000
|
1
|
26410
|
4
|
0x8F66000001000000
|
1
|
26410
|
6
|
0x8F66000001000100
|
The
row location display in one of two ways:
- If the table
does not have a clustered index, the row locator will be combination of
fileno, pageno and the no of rows in a page.
- If the table
does have clustered index, the row location will be clustered index key
value.
Non-clustered
indexes are particularly handy when we want to return a single row from a
table.
For
example, to search for employee ID (empid = 3) in a table that has a
non-clustered index on the empid column, SQL Server looks through the index to
find an entry that lists the exact page and row in the table where the matching
empid can be found, and then goes directly to that page and row. This greatly
speeds up accessing the record in question.
Select
EmpID, EmpName From DummyTable1 WHERE EMPID = 3
Now,
let’s insert some more rows in our table and view the data page storage of our
non-clustered index.
Insert
Into DummyTable1 Values (10, Replicate ('j',2000))
GO
Insert Into DummyTable1 Values (2, Replicate ('b',2000))
GO
Insert
Into DummyTable1 Values (5, Replicate ('e',2000))
GO
Insert
Into DummyTable1 Values (8, Replicate ('h',2000))
GO
Insert
Into DummyTable1 Values (9, Replicate ('i',2000))
GO
Insert
Into DummyTable1 Values (7, Replicate ('g',2000))
GO
Now,
let’s view the data in our table.
Execute:
Select
EmpID From DummyTable1
Here
are the results:
EmpID
|
4
|
6
|
1
|
3
|
10
|
2
|
5
|
8
|
9
|
7
|
As
you may notice above, the data is still in the order we entered it, and not in
any particular order. This is because adding the non-clustered index didn’t
change how the data was stored and ordered on the data pages.
Now,
let’s view the results of the DBCC IND command. In order to find out what
happened when the new data was added to the table.
DBCC
TRACEON (3604)
GO
Declare
@DBID Int, @TableID Int
Select @DBID = db_id(), @TableID = object_id('DummyTable1')
DBCC ind(@DBID, @TableID, -1)
GO
Here
are the results:
PagePID
|
IndexID
|
PageType
|
26408
|
0
|
10
|
26255
|
0
|
1
|
26409
|
0
|
1
|
26412
|
0
|
1
|
26413
|
0
|
1
|
26411
|
2
|
10
|
26410
|
2
|
2
|
Let
us execute the page 26410 again and get the index page details.
DBCC
TRACEON (3604)
GO
dbcc
page(10, 1, 26410, 3)
GO
SQL
Server populates the index column data in order. The last column (?) is pointed to the row locator.
Here
are the results:
Method I
FileID
|
PageID
|
EMPID
|
?
|
1
|
26410
|
1
|
0x8F66000001000200
|
1
|
26410
|
2
|
0x2C67000001000000
|
1
|
26410
|
3
|
0x2967000001000000
|
1
|
26410
|
4
|
0x8F66000001000000
|
1
|
26410
|
5
|
0x2C67000001000100
|
1
|
26410
|
6
|
0x8F66000001000100
|
1
|
26410
|
7
|
0x2D67000001000000
|
1
|
26410
|
8
|
0x2C67000001000200
|
1
|
26410
|
9
|
0x2967000001000200
|
1
|
26410
|
10
|
0x2967000001000100
|
As
I explained earlier, there are two types of row locations. We have seen Method I. Now, let’s try Method
II with the help of a clustered and non-clustered index in a table.
DummyTable1 already has a non-clustered index. Let’s now add a new column to
the DummyTabl1 table and add a clustered index on that column.
Alter
Table DummyTable1 Add EmpIndex Int IDENTITY(1,1)
GO
This
will link the clustered index key value, instead of the row locator, and be will the
combination of fileno, pageno and no of rows in a page.
This
adds the Empindex column to DummyTable1. I have used an identity column so that
we will not have null values on that column.
You
can execute the DBCC ind
and DBCC page to check if there any change after the new column is added to the
table. If you don’t want to check this yourself, I can tell you that adding the
new column did not affect the total number of pages currently allocated to the
table by SQL Server.
Now,
let’s add a unique clustered index on the empindex column and then view the
differences in page
26410.
First,
we execute the DBCC ind
command. This displays a new set of pages for dummytable1.
DBCC
TRACEON (3604)
GO
Declare
@DBID Int, @TableID Int
Select @DBID = db_id(), @TableID = object_id('DummyTable1')
DBCC ind(@DBID, @TableID, -1)
GO
Here
are the results:
PagePID
|
IndexID
|
PageType
|
26415
|
1
|
10
|
26414
|
0
|
1
|
26416
|
1
|
2
|
26417
|
0
|
1
|
26418
|
0
|
1
|
26420
|
2
|
10
|
26419
|
2
|
2
|
Pages
26415 and 26420 have page allocation details. Pages 26414, 26417 and
26418 have data page details.
Now,
let’s view pages 26416 and 26419 and see the output.
DBCC
TRACEON (3604)
GO
DBCC
page(10, 1, 26416, 3)
GO
Here
are the results:
FileID
|
PageID
|
ChildPageID
|
EMPID
|
1
|
26416
|
26414
|
0
|
1
|
26416
|
26417
|
5
|
1
|
26416
|
26418
|
9
|
This
displays the output of the clustered index page, which has got a link to data
page (ChildPageID). EMPID is an index column that contains the starting
row of the page.
DBCC
TRACEON (3604)
GO
DBCC
page(10, 1, 26419, 3)
GO
Here
are the results:
Method II
FileID
|
PageID
|
EMPID
|
EMPIndex
|
1
|
26419
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
26419
|
2
|
2
|
1
|
26419
|
3
|
3
|
1
|
26419
|
4
|
4
|
1
|
26419
|
5
|
5
|
1
|
26419
|
6
|
6
|
1
|
26419
|
7
|
7
|
1
|
26419
|
8
|
8
|
1
|
26419
|
9
|
9
|
1
|
26419
|
10
|
10
|
It
is interesting to see the differences now. There is a difference between Method I and Method II. Method II is now
linked to a clustered index key.
The
main difference between Method
I and Method
II is the link to a row in a data
page.
Part II: Clustered Index
Creating a Table
To
better explain how SQL Server creates clustered indexes; let’s start by
creating a new table and populating it with some sample data using the
following scripts. You can use the same sample database as before.
Create
Table DummyTable2
(
EmpId Int,
EmpName Varchar(8000)
)
As
in the previous example, when you first create a new table, there is no index
created by default, and a heap is created. As before, we can confirm the fact
that this new table doesn’t have an index by taking a look at the sysindexes
system table, which contains one for this table with an of indid = 0. The
sysindexes table, which exists in every database, tracks table and index
information. “Indid” refers to Index ID, and is used to identify indexes. An
indid of 0 means that a table does not have an index, and is stored by SQL
Server as a heap.
Now
let’s add a few records in this table using this script:
Insert
Into DummyTable2 Values (4, Replicate ('d',2000))
GO
Insert
Into DummyTable2 Values (6, Replicate ('f',2000))
GO
Insert
Into DummyTable2 Values (1, Replicate ('a',2000))
GO
Insert
Into DummyTable2 Values (3, Replicate ('c',2000))
GO
Now,
let’s view the contents of the table by executing the following command in
Query Analyzer for our new table.
Select
EmpID From DummyTable2
GO
As
you would expect, the data we inserted has been displayed. Note that the order
of the results is in the same order that I inserted them in, which is in no
order at all.
Now,
let’s execute the following commands to display the actual page information for
the table we created and is now stored in SQL Server.
DBCC ind(dbid,
tabid, -1) – It is an undocumented command.
DBCC
TRACEON (3604)
GO
Declare
@DBID Int, @TableID Int
Select @DBID = db_id(), @TableID = object_id('DummyTable2')
DBCC ind(@DBID, @TableID, -1)
GO
This
script will display many columns, but we are only interested in three of them,
as shown below.
Here
are the results:
PagePID
|
IndexID
|
PageType
|
26408
|
0
|
10
|
26255
|
0
|
1
|
26409
|
0
|
1
|
Here’s
what the information displayed means:
PagePID
is the physical page numbers used to store the table. In this case, three pages
are currently used to store the data.
IndexID
is the type of index,
Where:
0
– Datapage
1
– Clustered Index
2
– Greater and equal to 2 is an Index page (Non-Clustered Index and ordinary
index)
PageType
tells you what kind of data is stored in each database
Where:
10
– IAM (Index Allocation MAP)
1
– Datapage
2
– Index page
Now,
let us execute DBCC PAGE command.
DBCC
page(dbid, fileno, pageno, option)
Where:
dbid = database id.
Fileno = fileno of the page. Usually it will be 1, unless we
use more than one file for a database.
Pageno = we can take the output of the dbcc ind page no.
Option = it can be 0, 1, 2, 3. I use 3 to get a display of the
data. You can try yourself for the other options.
Run
this script to execute the command:
DBCC
TRACEON (3604)
GO
DBCC
page(@DBID, 1, 26408, 3)
GO
The
output will be page allocation details.
DBCC
TRACEON (3604)
GO
DBCC
page(@DBID, 1, 26255, 3)
GO
The
output will display the data however it was entered in the table. This is how
SQL stores the data in pages. Actually, 26255 & 26409 will display the data
page.
I
have displayed the data page information for page 26255 only. This is how
MS-SQL stores the contents in data pages as such column name with its
respective value.
Record
Type =
PRIMARY_RECORD
EmpId
= 4
EmpName =
dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd
dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd
dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd
dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd
dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd
Record
Type =
PRIMARY_RECORD
EmpId =
6
EmpName =
ffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffff
fffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffff
fffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffff
Record
Type =
PRIMARY_RECORD
EmpId =
1
EmpName =
aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
This
displays the exact data storage in SQL without any index on table. Now, let’s
go and create a Unique Clustered Index on EmpID column.
Create a Clustered Index
Now,
let us create a unique clustered index on empid column to see how it affects
the data that is stored in SQL Server.
CREATE
UNIQUE CLUSTERED INDEX DummyTable2_EmpIndex
ON DummyTable2 (EmpID)
GO
Execute:
Select
EmpID From DummyTable2
Here
are the results:
Now,
execute the DBCC ind
(dbid, tabid, -1)
DBCC
TRACEON (3604)
GO
Declare
@DBID Int, @TableID Int
Select
@DBID = db_id(), @TableID = object_id('DummyTable2')
DBCC ind(@DBID, @TableID, -1)
GO
Here
are the results:
PagePID
|
IndexID
|
PageType
|
26411
|
1
|
10
|
26410
|
0
|
1
|
26412
|
1
|
2
|
MS SQL generates a
page (pagetype = 10) for an index and explains the page allocation details for
an index. It shows the number of index page have been occupied for an index.
Now,
let us view the page 26410 and 26412 and see the page details.
DBCC
TRACEON (3604)
GO
DBCC
page(10, 1, 26412, 3)
GO
Here
are the results:
FileID
|
PageID
|
ChildPageID
|
EMPID
|
1
|
26412
|
26410
|
0
|
The
output display many columns, but we are only interested in four of them as
shown above.
This
will display the output of the index page, which has got link to data page
(ChildPageID). EMPID is an index column will contain the starting row of
the page.
Now,
let us view the page 26410 and see the page details.
DBCC
TRACEON (3604)
GO
DBCC page
(10, 1, 26410, 3)
GO
Here
are the results:
Record
Type = PRIMARY_RECORD
EmpId
= 1
EmpName
= aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
Record
Type = PRIMARY_RECORD
EmpId
= 2
EmpName
= bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbb
bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbb
bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbb
bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbb
bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbb
Record
Type = PRIMARY_RECORD
EmpId
= 3
EmpName
= cccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccc
cccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccc
cccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccc
cccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccc
cccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccc
Though
I have added disorder records, SQL has displayed the data page in sequence
because we have got a clustered index on empid. This is absolutely great!
Adding a clustered index to the table has physically reordered the data pages,
putting them in physical order based on the indexed column.
Now,
let’s insert some more rows in our table and view the data and index page
storage of our clustered index.
Insert
Into DummyTable2 Values (10, Replicate ('j',2000))
GO
Insert
Into DummyTable2 Values (2, Replicate ('b',2000))
GO
Insert
Into DummyTable2 Values (5, Replicate ('e',2000))
GO
Insert
Into DummyTable2 Values (8, Replicate ('h',2000))
GO
Insert
Into DummyTable2 Values (9, Replicate ('i',2000))
GO
Insert
Into DummyTable2 Values (7, Replicate ('g',2000))
GO
Now,
execute the DBCC ind
(dbid, tabid, -1)
DBCC
TRACEON (3604)
GO
Declare
@DBID Int, @TableID Int
Select
@DBID = db_id(), @TableID = object_id('DummyTable2')
DBCC ind(@DBID, @TableID, -1)
GO
Here
are the results:
PagePID
|
IndexID
|
PageType
|
26411
|
1
|
10
|
26410
|
0
|
1
|
26412
|
1
|
2
|
26255
|
0
|
1
|
26408
|
0
|
1
|
26409
|
0
|
1
|
Now,
we see few more rows than before. Page 26411 displays the page allocation
details, and pages 26408, 26409, 26410 and 26255 display the data page details,
as before.
In
regard to the new pages, page 26411 displays the page allocation details of an
index page and 26412 displays the index page details.
MS-SQL
generates a page (pagetype = 10) for an index and explains the page allocation
details for an index. It shows the number of index page have been
occupied for an index.
Let
us see what would be the output for page 26411, that is page type = 10.
DBCC
TRACEON (3604)
GO
dbcc
page(10, 1, 26411, 3)
GO
Here
are the results:
IAM:
Single Page Allocations @0x30A5C08E
-----------------------------------------
Slot 0 =
(1:26410)
Slot 1 =
(1:26412)
Slot 2 =
(1:26255)
Slot 3 =
(1:26408)
Slot 4 =
(1:26409)
Let
us view page 26412 to see the index page details.
DBCC
TRACEON (3604)
GO
DBCC
page(10, 1, 26412, 3)
GO
Here
are the results:
FileID
|
PageID
|
ChildPageID
|
EMPID
|
1
|
26412
|
26410
|
0
|
1
|
26412
|
26408
|
4
|
1
|
26412
|
26255
|
6
|
1
|
26412
|
26409
|
9
|
This
helps us to get an idea to decide the need of clustered index. It is really
useful to have a clustered index when retrieve many rows of data, ranges of
data, and when BETWEEN is used in the WHERE clause. Because, the leaf level of
the clustered index is the data. It should be used to save many I/Os. So, it is
better to use clustered indexes to solve queries asking for ranges of data, not
one row.
For
example, to search for an employee ID (empid between 3 and 9) in a table that
has a clustered index on the empid column.
Select
EmpID, EmpName From DummyTable1 WHEREEMPID Between 3 And 9