B-Tree Indexes
B-Tree indexes are a self-balancing tree data structure used in databases and file systems to efficiently store, retrieve, and manage sorted data. They allow for logarithmic time complexity for search, insertion, and deletion operations, making them ideal for handling large datasets with frequent queries. B-Trees maintain sorted order and are optimized for systems that read and write large blocks of data, such as disk storage.
Developers should learn B-Tree indexes when working with relational databases like PostgreSQL, MySQL, or SQLite, as they are the default indexing method for optimizing query performance on sorted columns. They are crucial for speeding up SELECT, JOIN, and WHERE clause operations in applications with high read/write loads, such as e-commerce platforms or analytics systems. Understanding B-Trees helps in database schema design, query optimization, and troubleshooting performance bottlenecks.