What is extent in SAP BC-DB - Database Interface, Database Platforms?

SAP Term: extent

• Component: BC-DB

• Component Name: Database Interface, Database Platforms

• Description: Physical memory area of a database that is assigned to precisely one database object for example, a table or index. An object can comprise multiple physical extents, whereby some database systems can handle only a specified number of extents per object. When this number is exceeded, this is often referred to as “extent overflow”. CCMS and SAPDBA if available for the DBMS can be used to monitor and manage extents.

Smart SAP Assistant

• Key Concepts: 
  Extent is a term used in SAP to refer to the amount of memory allocated to a database table. It is the smallest unit of memory that can be allocated to a table and is typically composed of multiple pages. Extents are used to store data in a database table and can be increased or decreased depending on the amount of data stored in the table. 
  
  How to use it: 
  When creating a database table, the extent size must be specified. This size determines how much memory will be allocated to the table. The extent size should be large enough to accommodate the amount of data that will be stored in the table, but not so large that it wastes memory. The extent size can also be changed after the table has been created if more or less memory is needed. 
  
  Tips & Tricks: 
  When setting the extent size for a database table, it is important to consider how much data will be stored in the table and how often it will be accessed. If the table will contain a large amount of data and will be accessed frequently, then a larger extent size should be used. On the other hand, if the table will contain only a small amount of data and will not be accessed often, then a smaller extent size should be used. 
  
  Related Information: 
  Extents are related to other concepts such as pages, segments, and blocks. Pages are the smallest unit of memory that can be allocated to a database table and are composed of multiple extents. Segments are composed of multiple pages and blocks are composed of multiple segments. Understanding these concepts can help you better manage your database tables and optimize their performance.