Introduction
The database often becomes a bottleneck as your application grows. Optimization is necessary for a fast user experience.
Indexing
Indexing speeds up read operations. An index acts like a table of contents. The database finds rows without scanning entire tables. This allows the database to find rows fast.
- Primary Keys: These have automatic indexes.
- Foreign Keys: Indexing these is always recommended.
- Search Columns: Columns used in search clauses need indexes.
Balance is necessary. Indexes speed up reads but slow down writes.
N+1 Query Problem
Performance drops when you fetch items one by one. This problem is common with many ORMs. Fetching a list and then querying for related data for each item is inefficient.
Use eager loading instead. One query fetches the list and related data together.
Caching
The fastest query is one you avoid making. Implement caching for static data.
- Application Level: Use systems like Redis.
- Database Level: Use materialized views for complex tasks.
Connection Pooling
Opening database connections is expensive. Connections run out in serverless environments. Use a connection pooler to manage these links efficiently.
Database optimization is an ongoing process. Use tools to understand performance. Monitor slow logs regularly.
