Answer
A heap is a table without clustered index. Good for bulk loads but slow for lookups. Most tables should have a clustered index.
Quick Answer
A heap is a table with no clustered index — rows are stored in no particular order. Lookups require a full table scan or a non-clustered index with a Row Identifier (RID) lookup. For most workloads, a clustered index is better. Heaps can be useful for bulk-load staging tables where you don't need ordered access.
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SugharaIQ Editorial Team
Verified Answer
This answer has been peer-reviewed by industry experts holding senior engineering roles to ensure technical accuracy and relevance for modern interview standards.
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Source: SugharaIQ