What are the disadvantages of using indexes in database normalization?

Database Normalisation Questions



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What are the disadvantages of using indexes in database normalization?

There are a few disadvantages of using indexes in database normalization:

1. Increased storage space: Indexes require additional storage space to store the index data structure. This can lead to increased disk space usage, especially when dealing with large databases.

2. Slower data modification: Whenever data is inserted, updated, or deleted in a table with indexes, the indexes also need to be updated. This can slow down the performance of data modification operations, as the database needs to maintain the consistency of the indexes.

3. Increased maintenance overhead: Indexes need to be maintained and updated regularly to ensure optimal performance. This can add to the maintenance overhead of the database, as administrators need to monitor and manage the indexes to avoid performance degradation.

4. Index fragmentation: Over time, indexes can become fragmented, meaning that the index data is scattered across different disk locations. This can result in slower query performance, as the database needs to access multiple disk locations to retrieve the required data.

5. Increased complexity: Having multiple indexes on a table can make the database schema more complex and harder to understand. This can make it more challenging for developers and administrators to work with the database and optimize query performance.

Overall, while indexes can improve query performance by allowing faster data retrieval, they also come with these disadvantages that need to be considered and managed effectively.