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What is a clustered index vs non-clustered index?

Updated May 17, 2026

Short answer

Clustered index determines physical row order; non-clustered is a separate structure.

Deep explanation

A clustered index sorts and stores table data based on key values, meaning the table itself is the index. A non-clustered index is a separate structure that points to data rows. Clustered indexes are ideal for range queries; non-clustered indexes are better for lookups.

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