Database Data Blocks

Remember, the data block is the minimum unit of I/O in the database instance. Each database data block consists of one or more operating system blocks, and the block size of a tablespace is set at the time of tablespace creation. DB_BLOCK_SIZE is the default block size for all database data blocks.

Blocks can be managed using either automatic segment space management or manual space management.

Automatic Segment Space Management

In automatic segment space management (ASSM), the job of managing free space is taken care of within the database segments themselves. Tracking of the segment's free and used space is done using bitmaps (which I'll explain in a moment) rather than using FREELISTS. ASSM allows for more ease of management, ...

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