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● Indexes in Oracle
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● Indexes in Oracle
by
SBH
Published on 12-01-2010 06:15 AM
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1. Overview

Database performance is one of the primary objectives of database

administration. Code performance is degraded when the processing engine
makes more I/O on the disk or multiple context switching. One important
technique to reduce the performance overhead is Indexing. We shall discuss
about Indexes, their types and other important aspects.

2. Introduction

Indexes are the database objects which enhance the performance of a SQL
query. It is created on the table column(s). Their way of functioning is similar
to that of directory index which access path to a NAME differs from one name
to other.
Database Index provides access algorithms for faster access data from the
tables. If the indexed column is used in any of the WHERE clause conditions,
then the index against the column would be used to reduce the disk I/O by
traversing the indexed path scan and finding the data. This enhances the
query performance which would have been reduced in case of full table san.

Syntax

Code :
CREATE [UNIQUE][BITMAP]INDEX index
ON table (column [, column]...);

UNIQUE and BITMAP must be specified only for unique and bitmap indexes. By
default, Oracle creates B-Tree indexes for normal indexes.

Examples

1. The SQL below creates B-Tree Index on HIREDATE column of

EMPLOYEE table

Code sql:
SQL> CREATE INDEX IDX_EMP ON EMPLOYEE (HIREDATE);

INDEX created.

2. The SQL below creates Unique Index on EMPNO column of

EMPLOYEE table

Code sql:
SQL> CREATE UNIQUE INDEX IDX_EMP_ID ON EMPLOYEE (EMPNO);

INDEX created.

3. The SQL below creates Function Based Index on UPPER(ENAME)

column of EMPLOYEE table

Code sql:
SQL> CREATE INDEX IDX_EMP_NAME ON EMPLOYEE (UPPER (ENAME));
 INDEX created.

3. Notes

1. Index creation creates an Index segment, which stores the values for the
indexed column. Upon reference of the column in the query, oracle server
takes the value from the index segment for comparison.
2. If a table contains a primary key or unique constrained column, unique
index is automatically created during creation of constraints.
3. The index creator must possess CREATE [ANY] INDEX privilege.
4. Oracle server is intelligent enough to decide upon the situation whether to
use Indexed Path or Normal path. If query fetches result 2-5% of total count of
rows in the table, then Oracle goes on to make use of Indexes.
5. Composite Index can be created on more than one column of a table. In
such cases, even if one of the columns is used in the query condition, the
index gets used.
6. Appropriate column identification to be indexed is based on its usability in
the SQL query, range of values in it, null values.
7. Prior to Oracle 9i versions, function based indexes were enabled by setting
QUERY_REWRITE_ENABLED and QUERY_REWRITE_INTEGRITY parameters as
TRUE and TRUSTED respectively.

4. Types of Indexes

1. B-Tree index – The default index created by Oracle is preferrable for high
cardinality columns. It helps to mobilize the search operation based on its tree
and node like orientation where every leaf node comprises of rowid. Access
algorithm refers to the most optimum path traversing along these branches to
reach a node (data). Note that NULL values of a columns are not included in B-
Tree Indexes.
2. Bitmap index – For low cardinality columns, oracle provides Bitmap Indexes.
Column having bit like values like ‘Y’ or ‘N’, ‘0’ or ‘1’, or ‘O’ or ‘N’ are best
candidates for Bitmap indexing. They store the rowid with key value as
bitmap.
3. Function Based index – Oracle restricts the use of Index on a column if it is
used with a function. To overcome this abstract behaviour, oracle provides
Function based Index. They can be created on columns using manipulative
functions like UPPER(COLUMN), NVL(COL, VAL) etc.

Besides the above classification, there are other type of indexes like Cluster
indexes (for clustered applications), Global and Local Indexes (for partitioned
tables), and Reverse Key Indexes (used in RAC applications).

5. Removing an Index

Using DROP command, users can possess DROP ANY USER privilege.

Eg: DROP INDEX IDX_EMP

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