Final answer:
Indexes in a clustered indexer environment improve data retrieval operations. Clustered indexes determine the physical order of data in a table, while non-clustered indexes provide a way to quickly access data based on specific query criteria.
Step-by-step explanation:
In a clustered indexer environment, indexes are configured to improve the performance and efficiency of data retrieval operations. In this setup, indexes are created on one or more key fields in a database table. The indexes store a sorted copy of the indexed field(s) along with pointers to the corresponding records in the table.
Clustered indexes are special types of indexes that determine the physical order of data in a table. They define the sort order of the table's rows, and each table can have only one clustered index. As a result, the data in a clustered index is physically ordered based on the indexed key field(s).
Non-clustered indexes are another type of index that provides a way to quickly access data based on specific query criteria. Unlike clustered indexes, non-clustered indexes don't dictate the physical order of data in a table. Instead, they store a copy of the indexed field(s) along with pointers to the corresponding records in the table.