PRIMARY INDEX Meaning and
Definition
-
A primary index is a data structure used in databases to improve the efficiency of searching and retrieving data. It is a special type of index that is based on the primary key of a table.
In a database, a primary key is a unique identifier for each record in a table. A primary index is created using this primary key to allow for faster access to data. It determines the physical storage of data in the database by mapping the primary key values to the corresponding data blocks or pages.
The primary index stores a sorted list of primary key values along with the location or address of the corresponding data records. It acts as a guide or roadmap to quickly locate specific records within a large table. By using the primary index, searching for a particular record becomes much faster and more efficient, as the database engine can directly jump to the specific location using the index.
The primary index is stored separately from the actual data, allowing for efficient storage and retrieval. It is typically built on the primary key column of a table but can also be built on a combination of columns, known as a composite primary index.
Overall, the primary index plays a crucial role in optimizing database performance by facilitating rapid data retrieval and reducing the need for full table scans when searching for specific records.
Common Misspellings for PRIMARY INDEX
- orimary index
- lrimary index
- 0rimary index
- peimary index
- pdimary index
- pfimary index
- ptimary index
- p5imary index
- p4imary index
- prumary index
- prjmary index
- prkmary index
- promary index
- pr9mary index
- pr8mary index
- prinary index
- prikary index
- prijary index
- primzry index
- primsry index
Etymology of PRIMARY INDEX
The word "primary" derives from the Latin word "primarius", meaning "first" or "foremost". The term "index" comes from the Latin word "indicare", which means "to point out" or "to indicate". In the context of databases, an index is a data structure that points to the location of specific data within a table.
Therefore, the etymology of the term "primary index" suggests that it is the most important or fundamental index in a database. It typically refers to an index on a primary key column, which is the unique identifier for each row in a table. The primary index allows quick and efficient access to the data based on its primary key values.
Infographic
Add the infographic to your website:
