Indexing vs Materialized Views

Developers should use indexing when dealing with large datasets where query performance is critical, such as in high-traffic web applications or analytical systems meets developers should use materialized views when dealing with slow, complex queries in read-heavy applications, such as reporting dashboards, data analytics, or caching frequently accessed data. Here's our take.

Indexing

Nice Pick

Developers should use indexing when dealing with large datasets where query performance is critical, such as in high-traffic web applications or analytical systems

Pros

• It's essential for optimizing SELECT queries with WHERE, JOIN, or ORDER BY clauses, but requires careful management to balance read speed with write overhead (since indexes must be updated on data modifications)
• Related to: database-optimization, sql-queries

Cons

• Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

Materialized Views

Developers should use materialized views when dealing with slow, complex queries in read-heavy applications, such as reporting dashboards, data analytics, or caching frequently accessed data

Pros

• They are ideal for scenarios where real-time data is not critical, as they reduce database load and latency by serving precomputed results
• Related to: postgresql, oracle-database

Cons

• Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

The Verdict

These tools serve different purposes. Indexing is a concept while Materialized Views is a database. We picked Indexing based on overall popularity, but your choice depends on what you're building.

The Bottom Line

Indexing wins

Based on overall popularity. Indexing is more widely used, but Materialized Views excels in its own space.