Database performance can make or break your application. Here are essential optimization techniques that every developer should master.

1. Proper Indexing

Indexes are crucial for query performance. Create indexes on columns used in WHERE clauses, JOIN conditions, and ORDER BY statements.

CREATE INDEX idx_user_email ON users(email);
CREATE INDEX idx_posts_created ON posts(created_at, user_id);

2. Query Optimization

Write efficient queries by:

  • Selecting only needed columns instead of SELECT *
  • Using LIMIT to restrict result sets
  • Avoiding N+1 queries with eager loading
  • Using EXPLAIN to analyze query performance

3. Connection Pooling

Use connection pooling to reuse database connections instead of creating new ones for each request. This significantly reduces overhead.

4. Caching Strategies

Implement caching at multiple levels:

  • Query result caching
  • Application-level caching with Redis/Memcached
  • Database query cache

5. Database Normalization vs Denormalization

Normalize your database to reduce redundancy, but consider strategic denormalization for read-heavy workloads.

6. Regular Maintenance

Perform regular database maintenance:

  • Analyze and optimize tables
  • Update statistics
  • Archive old data
  • Monitor slow query logs

Conclusion

Database optimization is an ongoing process. Monitor performance metrics and continuously refine your approach based on real-world usage patterns.