The purpose of an index in SQL Server is option D) All of the mentioned.
Indexes are used to enhance query performance by allowing the database engine to quickly locate and retrieve specific data from tables.
By creating an index on one or more columns, SQL Server creates a separate data structure that organizes the indexed values and their corresponding row locations.
This structure enables efficient searching and retrieval operations, reducing the need to scan the entire table.
Indexes provide an index to a record by storing the indexed values along with pointers to the actual data rows.
This allows for faster access to specific records based on the indexed values.
Furthermore, indexes enable fast searches by leveraging various data structures like B-trees or hash tables to optimize the search process.
They improve query performance by minimizing the amount of data that needs to be scanned and processed.