What is .MDF and LDF and .NDF files?

What is .mdf and .NDF files?

NDF is secondary storage file because SQL server stores user specified data in primary storage file known as MDF. NDF data file is optional and is user-defined to manage data storage in case the primary MDF file uses all the allocated space.

What is .MDF file in SQL server?

Primary data file OR MDF file The SQL Server database stores data in MDF files. Typically, . mdf is a preferred extension of the primary database file. It is not a type of file. You can use another extension (*.

What is an LDF file?

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.

Where are MDF and LDF files stored?

Default Location of MDF File in SQL Server Files that are common and used by all instances on a single system are installed inside the folder :\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\nnn\.