When an instance of an ORACLE database is started, its control file is used to identify the database and redo log files that must be opened for database operation to proceed. It is also used in database recovery.
Controlfile contains the information about the database like names and locations of datafiles name of the database database creation timestamp and apart from this the SCN are also reported into control during the database operation. Especially during the database startup the controlfile is used to gather the information about the database and while opening the database the information in the controlfile is validated to check for the consistency of the database.
control file contain the physical structure of database.it also contain the current log sequence number.when database mount ->open then oracle server check the consistency of the database through the control fie.
1.It is used to identify the names and locations of datafiles redologfiles. 2.Redo History is recorded during log switches. 3.Checkpoint information is recorded at ckpts are made. 4.Timestamp of database creation. 5.Database information is recorded when the database is created.
