Chapter 4: Indexes and Query Optimization

Overview

Getting a query to work is one thing, but getting a query to work quickly when the clients are piling up is another. You can speed up your queries in some basic ways. Using indexes intelligently can make a huge difference, while carefully fine-tuning your system can also make a noticeable improvement.

Featured in this chapter:

• Creating and using indexes

• Primary keys, unique indexes, full-text indexes, and ordinary indexes

• Full-text searches

• Dropping or changing an index

• Auto increment fields

• Analyzing queries with EXPLAIN

• Optimizing SELECT statements