RETRIEVING DATA UTILIZING A DISTRIBUTED INDEX

A method begins by a dispersed storage (DS) processing module receiving a request to retrieve a data object based on a search attribute. The method continues with the DS processing module retrieving and decoding a set of encoded index data slices to reconstruct an index file. The method continues with the DS processing module identifying a child index file, retrieving and decoding a set of encoded child index data slices to reconstruct the child index file, and determining whether the child index file includes a dispersed storage network (DSN) address for the data object. When the child index file includes the DSN address for the data object, the method continues with the DS processing module retrieving a plurality of sets of encoded data slices based on the DSN address and decoding the plurality of sets of encoded data slices to recapture the data object.