A segment is a database object (eg a
table , an index). A segment is made up of extents. An extent is made up
of database blocks. (blocks are fixed size eg 512, 1024, 2048, 4096, 8192
bytes) When you create a database segment (eg a table) it occupies at least
1 extent and at least 1 block. An extent is 1 or more database block in
size (always an integral number, 1,2,3,4,5. never 2.5 database blocks).
When you insert data into a table Oracle puts that data into an allocated
extent provided there is room. (really a block that is part of an extent.)
If all the extents are full then it grows bigger. It allocates X more
blocks as the next extent. (eg 10 blocks could make up the next extent) You
can control how large an extent is and how many there are when you define
your database segment.
table , an index). A segment is made up of extents. An extent is made up
of database blocks. (blocks are fixed size eg 512, 1024, 2048, 4096, 8192
bytes) When you create a database segment (eg a table) it occupies at least
1 extent and at least 1 block. An extent is 1 or more database block in
size (always an integral number, 1,2,3,4,5. never 2.5 database blocks).
When you insert data into a table Oracle puts that data into an allocated
extent provided there is room. (really a block that is part of an extent.)
If all the extents are full then it grows bigger. It allocates X more
blocks as the next extent. (eg 10 blocks could make up the next extent) You
can control how large an extent is and how many there are when you define
your database segment.