A storage map definition for the index. You can specify a store clause for indexes in a multifile database only. The STORE clause in a CREATE INDEX statement allows you to specify which storage area files are used to store the index entries: o All index entries can be associated with a single storage area. o Index entries can be systematically distributed, or partitioned, among several storage areas by specifying upper limits on the values for a key in a particular storage area. If you omit the storage map definition, the default is to store all the entries for an index in the main default storage area. You should define a storage area for an index that matches the storage map for the table with which it is associated. In particular, under the following conditions, the database system stores the index entry for a row on or near the same data page that contains the actual row: o The storage areas for a table have a mixed page format. o You specify an identical store clause for the index as exists in the storage map for the table. o The storage map for the table also names the index in the PLACEMENT VIA INDEX clause. Such coincidental clustering of indexes and rows can reduce I/O operations. With hashed indexes and coincidental clustering, the database system can retrieve rows for exact-match queries in one I/O operation. For sorted indexes, specifying an identical storage map reduces I/O contention on index nodes.