What is the main purpose of indexing in a database?

The main purpose of indexing in a database is to improve the speed of data retrieval. Indexes are special data structures that enhance the efficiency of search operations within a database. By creating an index on one or more columns of a database table, the database management system can quickly locate the required data without having to scan every row in the table. This significantly reduces the amount of time it takes to retrieve data, especially in large datasets.

Indexing works similarly to an index in a book, which allows readers to find information without needing to read every page. The quicker retrieval of data can lead to better performance for applications and overall user satisfaction.

While other aspects like data encryption, data redundancy, and data integrity are important features of database management, they are not the primary functions served by indexing. Indexes do not inherently provide security through data encryption, do not create redundancy, and do not directly maintain data validity or accuracy; they specifically focus on optimizing the speed at which data can be accessed.