What is the use of archive log file? How will you apply archive log file?

How does archive log file helps

to make backup consistent? 
Latest Answer: Hello Ganesh,Q : What is the use of archive log file? A : It is used for Point In Time
Database Instance Recovery.     Q : How will you apply archive log file? A : Archive Log need to apply
when you need to recover database.

 The Background process related to Oracle Architecture are as follows:

1.DBWR(DATABASE WRITER)
2.LGWR(LOG WRITER)
3.SMON(SYSTEM MONITOR)
4.PMON(PROCESS MONITOR)
5.CKPT(CHECK POINT)
6.SERVER
7CJQ(CO ORDINATOR JOB QUEUE PROCESSES)
8.RECOVER
9.DISPATCHER
10

How does the SMON process performs recovery after instance failure?.ARCHIVER

During startup smon will look for SCN match in datafile and controlfile if it is not found in datafile then
it performs recovery from logfiles.

what is the differnece between materialized view and snapshot

A materialized view is a replica of a target master from a singlepoint in time. The concept was first
introduced with Oracle7 termed asSNAPSHOT. In Oracle release 7.1.6 snapshots were enhanced to
enableDMLs along with a new terminology, updatable snapshots. With Oracle8.1.6 snapshots started to
be used in data warehouse environments so anew terminology materialized view was introduced to
address bothdistributed and data warehouse materialized views.