What is table scan , table seek and Index scan , index seek

  • Hi my question is very simple but i am very confused , i have searched on net but still not able to grasp knowledge.i want to know is table scan,table seek ,index scan and index seek.IF an eg is provided then better .

    i mean to say suppose there is table 4*4 table(4 rows and 4 columns) then how table scan works and how table seek works . similarly for Index

  • Table scan - read of the entire table

    Table seek - no such thing

    Index scan - read of the entire index

    Index seek - search into an index for a specific value or set of values.

    Gail Shaw
    Microsoft Certified Master: SQL Server, MVP, M.Sc (Comp Sci)
    SQL In The Wild: Discussions on DB performance with occasional diversions into recoverability

    We walk in the dark places no others will enter
    We stand on the bridge and no one may pass
  • GilaMonster (2/1/2013)


    Table scan - read of the entire table

    Table seek - no such thing

    Index scan - read of the entire index

    Index seek - search into an index for a specific value or set of values.

    Thanks Gila for reply . but by entire Table means means reading each and every columns for every row in an table. Am i correctly interpreating

  • Well, reading all of the data pages for the table.

    Gail Shaw
    Microsoft Certified Master: SQL Server, MVP, M.Sc (Comp Sci)
    SQL In The Wild: Discussions on DB performance with occasional diversions into recoverability

    We walk in the dark places no others will enter
    We stand on the bridge and no one may pass

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