> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://nag-9-s.gitbook.io/hbase/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://nag-9-s.gitbook.io/hbase/hbase-architecture/special-tables-root-meta.md).

# Special Tables ROOT , META

Hbase In Action

* Two special tables in HBase, -ROOT- and .META., help find where regions for various tables are hosted. 
* Like all tables in HBase, -ROOT- and .META. are also split into

   regions. -ROOT- and .META. are both special tables, but -ROOT- is more special than

   .META.; -ROOT- never splits into more than one region. 
* .META. behaves like all other

   tables and can split into as many regions as required.

## HBase Meta Table <a href="#hbase-meta-table" id="hbase-meta-table"></a>

* This META table is an HBase table that keeps a list of all regions in the system.
* The .META. table is like a b tree.
* The .META. table structure is as follows:
  * Key: region start key,region id
  * Values: RegionServer

![](https://1182370643-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-LsbZSe32ZgrQ1gzZoPR%2F-LsbZZk03RhW1ap7TKI8%2F-LsbZ_8uOJmTERlH34Nl%2FHBase%20Meta%20Table.png?generation=1572621937392039\&alt=media)