Measure with EXPLAIN before and after

sql

EXPLAIN SELECT * FROM orders WHERE status = 'paid' ORDER BY created_at DESC;

Explanation

Capture the baseline plan, add the index, then compare the new plan and latency.

Learn the surrounding workflow

Compare similar commands or jump into common fixes when this command is part of a bigger troubleshooting path.

Same sheet · prioritizing Quick checklist

Use this checklist before creating a new index.

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Indexes trade storage and write cost for faster reads.

Columns with many distinct values tend to benefit more.

Every extra index must be maintained during inserts, updates, and deletes.

Use column order that matches real filter patterns.

Indexing is not just for filters.