The initial extent is a set of contiguous blocks in a database segment that is automatically allocated when the segment is created. Any set of contiguous blocks allocated after the initial extent is called a next extent. The total number of extents that can be allocated in a database is limited by the amount of storage space available, or in some cases, by the program used.
The term extent is sometimes used in reference to any contiguous space (for example, a set of sectors) on a hard drive that is reserved for a particular file, folder, or application.
This was last updated in September 2005
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