Database lays the foundation for any kind of online operations. As the entire data flow into the system from the database, having a high database performance is important. It is thereby often recommended to opt for Database Optimization for the high performance of the database.

Diligent Database Administrators perform database tuning on a regular basis to keep up the performance of the database. But before we jump on to the MySQL Database optimization techniques, let us first understand what Database Optimization means.

What is Database Optimization MySQL?

Database Optimization refers to the techniques used in order to ensure the fastest possible time in which the SQL queries run for a database, resulting in a higher productivity. These techniques involve foreseeing different aspects to ensure an overall good health of the database.

Why is it important to perform Database tuning regularly?

A regular database tuning ensures a faster database access speed. This is done by finding all the possible areas of a slowdown by regular checkups. At the same time, queries are optimized to ensure they run fast and give the desired output.

For smaller databases where the data populated remains considerably less, the time difference between upon running a tuned database and any other database is not significant. But, when the databases are considerably large, then the time lapse between a tuned and an untuned database is significant, making regular database tuning important for overall seamless operations.

Techniques to perform Database tuning in MySQL

Here’s how you can optimize your database for a high performance by using the following MySQL database optimization techniques:

1.   Perform regular server health check-ups

Server forms the spine of any database, and to keep it in good health, it is important to perform regular health check-ups. This would help you in detecting and rectifying areas causing a slowdown.

You can use tools for database tuning such as Execution Related Dynamic Management Views and Functions (Transact-SQL), which are commonly known as DMVs, to detect slowdowns by checking server health upon execution.

2.   Create optimized Indexes to make queries efficient

Creating efficient and well-optimized indexes is one of the most effective ways of database tuning in MySQL. A well-optimized index, allows a query to avoid unnecessary scanning of the entire tables for the result. This is very beneficial especially when the size of the database is quite large.

SQL server automatically measures and stores the statistical information of the distribution of values in the Indexed column as soon as the Index is created. This information helps in formulating the best optimizing strategy for the database.

3.   Create optimized Select queries

SELECT * (Select All) query often requires much more processing than other Select queries. Thus, it is always advised in order to use specific fields to make the processing lot faster for database tuning.

Also in the case where you want a fixed number of results, you can use LIMIT to get the required number of results and avoid unnecessary processing of the entire database.

These optimized Queries help a lot in database tuning by increasing performance, especially when the size of the database is large.

4.   Avoid using Nested loops in queries

Nested loops in the queries cause slowdown, especially when the data to be processed is large. Since there could not be parallel processing in the nested loops and they access the data only one after the other, it makes the process lengthier.

For database optimization in MySQL, try to avoid nesting loops while structuring queries.

5.   Analyze real-time statistics regularly

For database tuning, it is important to monitor and keep a track on the real-time statistics of the database by using different MySQL database optimization techniques and tools such as Live Query Statistics.

 Live Query Statistics, is very substantial for debugging SQL query performance related issues in real-time, as it displays statistics of step by step query execution. This helps in closely understanding and detecting which steps are causing slowdown by analyzing.

What makes this tool a pro is the statistics are available when the query is still executing, helping the Database administrator to understand and tweak queries where it is required for database tuning to boost the performance.

The next step

While the above MySQL optimization techniques will help you in database tuning, but you need to make sure you practice these basic techniques on a regular basis to ensure an optimized performance of your database.

If you require any further assistance in database performance related issues or an expert consultation, then you feel free to contact me, to help you overcome the challenges.