---
title: "The Links table"
slug: "the-links-table"
abstract: "The Links table stores all links between individual items across databases."
---
# The Links table

Sitecore maintains a database table called `Links`.The `Links` table stores all links between individual items across databases (*Core*, *Master*, *Web*) and language versions.

Sitecore updates this table based on events that are triggered when actions on items (`item:copied`, `item:deleted`, `item:saved`, `item:versionRemoved`) are triggered.

There are two implementations of the database provider for this table:

- Sitecore.Links.DefaultLinkDatabase, Sitecore Kernel (the default)

    You can specify in which databases the links are stored. By default, each database stores its own links. It is possible to change which databases are used to store links by enabling `Sitecore.LinkDatabase.Explicit.config` file. There for each sitecore databases, you can configure a link database provider and point it to a connection string:

    `<linkProvider key="<sitecore database name>" `

    `type="Sitecore.Data.$(database).$(database)LinkDataProvider, Sitecore.Kernel">          <param ref="dataApis/dataApi[@name='$(database)']" param1="<connection string name>" /> `

    ` </linkProvider>`

- SqlServerBatchLinkDatabase

    The main advantage of the SqlServerBatchLinkDatabase provider is storing new item links in `Links` table with help of batching. This improves performance considerably.

To use the SqlServerBatchLinkDatabase provider:

- Enable the `App_Config/Include/Examples/SqlServerBatchLinkDatabase.config.example` file by removing the `.example` from the file name.

    > [!note]
    > When you enable the new provider, Sitecore removes all data from the `Links` table and the provider repopulates the table.

## Rebuild the Links table

You may occasionally need to rebuild the `Links` table, for example, as part of the upgrade process.

To rebuild the `Links` table:

On the Sitecore Launchpad, open the **Control Panel** and in the *Database* section, click **Rebuild link databases**, select the *Master* and *Core* databases, and then click **Rebuild**.