Introduction to Data Blocks, Extents, and Segments【每日一译】--2012-10-16

Oracle allocates logical database space for all data in a database. The units of database
space allocation are data blocks, extents, and segments. Figure 2–1shows the

relationships among these data structures:

ORACLE对数据库的所有数据分配逻辑数据库空间，数据库空间分配的单元有数据块，区，和段，

图2-1显示这些对象结构的关系：

At the finest level of granularity, Oracle stores data in data blocks (also called logical
blocks, Oracle blocks, or pages). One data block corresponds to a specific number of
bytes of physical database space on disk.

最小的细粒度级别，ORACLE以数据块为单位存储数据（也叫做逻辑块，ORACLE块或者页).

一个数据块相当于一个指定的磁盘的物理数据库空间的字节数。

The next level of logical database space is an extent. An extent is a specific number of
contiguous data blocks allocated for storing a specific type of information.

下一个逻辑数据库空间的级别是一个区。一个区是一个指定相邻数据块分配给一个

指定的信息类型。

The level of logical database storage greater than an extent is called a segment. A
segment is a set of extents, each of which has been allocated for a specific data
structure and all of which are stored in the same tablespace. For example, each table’s
data is stored in its own data segment, while each index’s data is stored in its own
index segment. If the table or index is partitioned, each partition is stored in its own
segment.

大于区的的逻辑数据库存储级别叫做一个段。

一个段是一个区的集合，任何一个段分配一个特定的数据结构而且这些结构都存储在同

一个表空间。比如，任何一个表的数据存储在它的自己数据段，同时任何一个索引的数据

存储在它自己的索引段。如果表或索引是分区的，那么任何一个分区存储在它自己的段里。

Oracle allocates space for segments in units of one extent. When the existing extents of
a segment are full, Oracle allocates another extent for that segment. Because extents
are allocated as needed, the extents of a segment may or may not be contiguous on
disk.

ORACLE对于段的分区是以一个区为单位。当已有的段的分区用完后，ORACLE分配另外

一个区给这个段。因为区是按需分配的，段的分区数可能或者不可能在磁盘的相邻区。

A segment and all its extents are stored in one tablespace. Within a tablespace, a
segment can include extents from more than one file; that is, the segment can span
datafiles. However, each extent can contain data from only one datafile.

一个段和所有它的分区都存储在一个表空间。在一个表空间中，一个段可以包含多个

分区从多个文件中；也就是段可以跨越多个数据文件。但每一个分区能包含的数据只

能从一个文件中来。

Although you can allocate additional extents, the blocks themselves are allocated
separately. If you allocate an extent to a specific instance, the blocks are immediately
allocated to the free list. However, if the extent is not allocated to a specific instance,
then the blocks themselves are allocated only when the high water mark moves. The
high water mark is the boundary between used and unused space in a segment.

尽管你可以额外分配区块，块它们被独自的分配。如果你分配了一个区给一个指定的

实例，那个块将马上分配到空闲列表。但是，如果区没有分配给指定的实例，那么

块它们自己的分配只有在高水位移动时候分配。高水位是段中使用与未使用空间的分

界线。