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MySQL Indexes

Indexes in MySQL are used to speed up the retrieval of rows from a table. They work similarly to an index in a book, allowing you to find data more quickly.

Types of Indexes

  • Primary Index: Automatically created on the primary key.
  • Unique Index: Ensures that all values in the index column are unique.
  • Full-Text Index: Used for text search in columns.

Example: Creating an Index

CREATE INDEX idx_king_name ON tamil_kings (king_name);

Code Explanation: This command creates an index on the king_name column in the tamil_kings table to speed up queries that filter or sort by king_name.

Best Practices

  • Use indexes on columns that are frequently used in WHERE, JOIN, and ORDER BY clauses.
  • Avoid over-indexing, as it can slow down INSERT, UPDATE, and DELETE operations.

Key Takeaways

  • Indexes improve the performance of data retrieval but can slow down data modification operations.
  • Choose the right type of index based on your use case.
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