What is LDF file in SQL Server?

Question

A file with . ldf extension is a log file maintained by Microsoft SQL Server which is a relational database management system (RDBMS). All the transactions performed on primary database files (MDF)(such as insertion, update, deletion) are recorded in the LDF file. LDF files are critical components of any database.

What does LDF file contain?

An LDF file is a log file created by SQL Server, a relational database management system (RDBMS) developed by Microsoft. It contains a log of recent actions executed by the database and is used to track events so that the database can recover from hardware failures or other unexpected shutdowns.

What is the difference between MDF and LDF file?

MDF is the primary data file for MSSQL. The LDF, on the other hand, is a supporting file and is characterized as a server transaction log file. 2. MDF contains all the vital and necessary information in databases while the LDF contains all the actions which include transactions and changes made in the MDF file.

Can I remove LDF file?

You should not delete any of the database files since it can severely damage your database! If you run out of disk space you might want to split your database in multiple parts. This can be done in the database's properties. So you are able to put each part of the database to a different storage volume.

What is an LDF log file?

A log file or LDF(Log Database File) is a database file of Microsoft SQL Server, which stores all the transaction logs/events, which executes on the database. The main purpose of using log file in SQL Server is to rollback the database in case of data loss. Log file uses the same filename as its associated MDF file.

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