What is indexing and how does it improve database performance?

Indexing in database administration is a technique used to improve the performance of queries on a database table. It works by creating a data structure that enables quick lookup of data based on specific columns in the table.

By creating indexes on columns frequently used in queries, such as those involved in WHERE clauses or JOIN operations, the database management system can retrieve the required data more efficiently, reducing the time it takes to execute queries.

Indexing helps to minimize the amount of data that needs to be scanned when searching for specific records, making database operations faster and more efficient. This can result in improved overall database performance and faster response times for users accessing the database.