When a database in SQL Server is in recovery mode, it means the database is in the process of recovering from a system crash, unexpected shutdown, or after performing certain operations like restoring a backup. During this time, SQL Server is applying transaction logs to bring the database to a consistent state, ensuring that all committed transactions are completed and any incomplete transactions are rolled back.
There are different recovery modes in SQL Server, such as:
Full Recovery Mode: In this mode, the database logs all transactions, and the database can be fully recovered to any point in time.
Bulk-Logged Recovery Mode: This is similar to full recovery mode but optimized for bulk operations like data imports.
Simple Recovery Mode: In this mode, the database does not keep a detailed transaction log, and point-in-time recovery is not possible.
If a database is stuck in recovery mode for an extended period, it may indicate an issue, such as a large transaction log or hardware problems, that needs to be addressed.