An index is a schema object. It is used by the server to speed up the retrieval of rows by using a pointer. It can reduce disk I/O(input/output) by using a rapid path access method to locate data quickly.
An index helps to speed up select queries and where clauses, but it slows down data input, with the update and the insert statements. Indexes can be created or dropped with no effect on the data. In this article, we will see how to create, delete, and use the INDEX in the database.
Creating an Index
Syntax
CREATE INDEX index
ON TABLE column;
where the index is the name given to that index TABLE is the name of the table on which that index is created and column is the name of that column for which it is applied.
For Multiple Columns
Syntax:
CREATE INDEX index
ON TABLE (column1, column2,…..);
For Unique Indexes
Unique indexes are used for the maintenance of the integrity of the data present in the table as well as for fast performance, it does not allow multiple values to enter into the table.
Syntax:
CREATE UNIQUE INDEX index
ON TABLE column;
When Should Indexes be Created?
- A column contains a wide range of values.
- A column does not contain a large number of null values.
- One or more columns are frequently used together in a where clause or a join condition.
When Should Indexes be Avoided?
- The table is small
- The columns are not often used as a condition in the query
- The column is updated frequently
Removing an Index
Remove an index from the data dictionary by using the DROP INDEX command.
Syntax
DROP INDEX index;
To drop an index, you must be the owner of the index or have the DROP ANY INDEX privilege.
Altering an Index
To modify an existing table’s index by rebuilding, or reorganizing the index.
ALTER INDEX IndexName
ON TableName REBUILD;
Confirming Indexes
You can check the different indexes present in a particular table given by the user or the server itself and their uniqueness.
Syntax:
SELECT * from USER_INDEXES;
It will show you all the indexes present in the server, in which you can locate your own tables too.
Renaming an Index
You can use the system-stored procedure sp_rename to rename any index in the database.
Syntax:
EXEC sp_rename
index_name,
new_index_name,
N’INDEX’;
SQL Server Database
Syntax:
DROP INDEX TableName.IndexName;
Why SQL Indexing is Important?
Indexing is an important topic when considering advanced MySQL, although most people know about its definition and usage they don’t understand when and where to use it to change the efficiency of our queries or stored procedures by a huge margin.
Here are some scenarios along with their explanation related to Indexing:
- When executing a query on a table having huge data ( > 100000 rows ), MySQL performs a full table scan which takes much time and the server usually gets timed out. To avoid this always check the explain option for the query within MySQL which tells us about the state of execution. It shows which columns are being used and whether it will be a threat to huge data. On basis of the columns repeated in a similar order in condition.
- The order of the index is of huge importance as we can use the saitions, we can create an index for them in the same order to maximize the speed of the query. me index in many scenarios. Using only one index we can utilize it in more than one query which different conditions. like for example, in a query, we make a join with a table based on customer_id wards we also join another join based on customer_id and order_date. Then we can simply create a single index by the order of customer_id, order_date which would be used in both cases. This also saves storage.
- We should also be careful to not make an index for each query as creating indexes also take storage and when the amount of data is huge it will create a problem. Therefore, it’s important to carefully consider which columns to index based on the needs of your application. In general, it’s a good practice to only create indexes on columns that are frequently used in queries and to avoid creating indexes on columns that are rarely used. It’s also a good idea to periodically review the indexes in your database and remove any that are no longer needed.
- Indexes can also improve performance when used in conjunction with sorting and grouping operations. For example, if you frequently sort or group data based on a particular column, creating an index on that column can greatly improve performance. The index allows MySQL to quickly access and sort or group the data, rather than having to perform a full table scan.
- In some cases, MySQL may not use an index even if one exists. This can happen if the query optimizer determines that a full table scan is faster than using the index.
Conclusion
- Data retrieval is speed up by the usage of indexes.
- They function as a database row’s table of contents.
- Enhance query speed, however, inserts and updates might take longer.
- Bitmap, Hash, and B-tree indexes are examples of typical types.
- Indexes must be carefully selected and kept up-to-date in order for database operations to go smoothly.