Optimize MySQL Tables

If you’re running a web platform like WordPress or Drupal, you may not know that database transactions create overhead on your database tables. As the name suggests, these overheads take up more memory than they currently do and thus reduce the database server’s performance. MySQL includes a component called the query optimizer that enables you to optimize complex queries, determine the flow of executions and the indexes used on tables contained in query statements, and optimize time and performance as much as possible. So here we’ll look at how you can optimize MySQL tables to make your website more responsive.

Why should you optimize MySQL tables?

The MySQL Table is not optimized mainly because it is a daily delete or update query. Running these queries can cause fragmentation that affects:

  • Data query takes more time than ideal.
  • Database tables carry up more 

additional area than you would have expected.

The big advantage of identifying database performance drivers is that you can reduce costs by avoiding over-provisioning and right-sizing your servers. You’ll also gain insights into whether moving data storage or adding more server capacity can improve performance and how much it should improve.

MySQL table optimization technology allows you to manage data placement in your database. It results in clean storage that eliminates unused space and improves query execution speed and overall efficiency.

How to find the tables for Optimization?

You require to examine which tables are more room in your database. So, link to the MySQL DB model and execute the following query:

You should get a table that occupies an unaccustomed room

– List all tables causing unused space

SELECT TABLE_NAME,

ROUND(DATA_LENGHT/1024/1024) AS USED_SPACE_MB,

ROUND(DATA_FREE/1024/1024) AS UNUSED_SPACE_MB

FROM INFORMATION_SCHEMA.TABLES

WHERE ROUND(DATA_FREE/1024/1024) > 1000

ORDER BY UNUSED SPACE MB;

The SQL query shown above will produce this outcome.

From this output, you can decode the following. 

From this output, you can decode the following points:

  • Foremost, the SELECT code lists tables with more than 1000MB of free room.
  • The USED_SPACE_MB and UNUSED_SPACE_MB queues display data in megabytes.
  • This result shows that all these tables are prospects for Optimization because they cause high fragmentation.

How to optimize Table?

Here are all the most useful directions for how to optimize MySQL Table. It is very easy to optimize if you completely understand the basics.

Eliminate overhead

The easiest way to remove overhead is to use phpMyAdmin to access the database and optimize the tables. You can do this with the available functions, but remember that it takes time because you have to check the database first. However, you can automate database and table optimizations by using daily PHP scripts. Preparing the MySQL Database If your website is hosted on a dedicated server or VPS, you can create a script using the credentials of the MySQL root user. However, if you are not using a shared hosting plan, you must create a database user with access to all databases.

Optimizing a MySQL Database Using phpMyAdmin

phpMyAdmin requires the use of Optimize Table to delete most of a table or to make any changes to a table with a variable-length row, such as VARCHAR, TEXT, BLOB, or a VARBINARY column. Deleted rows are retained in the link list, and the insert operation reuses the old row position. Optimize Table can reclaim unused space and defrag data files for optimal performance. Optimizing a table can improve performance significantly if a table has changed a lot.

Syntax

The following is the syntax for the MySQL OPTIMIZE TABLE statement -.

OPTIMIZE [NO_WRITE_TO_BINLOG | LOCAL] TABLE name_of_table1 [, name_of_table2] …

The NO_WRITE_TO_BINLOG and LOCAL keywords are optional and are used to avoid logging. You can simultaneously optimize one or more tables by referring to them, separated by commas, as shown in the syntax.

Optimize considerable tables at once

To optimize many tables on onetime, use:

Optimizing Tables Using mysqlcheck in Windows

Code example

// Syntax mysqlcheck -o <schema> <table> -u <username> -p <password>

mysqlcheck -o test test_table -u root -p

If you write the above command and press Enter, you will be prompted for the root password of MySQL. Please enter it.

Code example

c:\Program Files\MySQL\MySQL Server 8.0\bin>mysqlcheck -o test test_table -u root -p

Enter password: *****

What is dbForge Studio for MySQL?

dbForge Studio for MySQL is a versatile GUI mechanism for developing, managing, and operating MySQL databases. The IDE’s intuitive interface makes it easy to build and execute queries, design and debug reserved ways, regulate database object control, examine table details, and much more. It provides powerful support for you. But wait a minute, there’s more!

Using dbForge Studio for MySQL to Optimize the MySQL Table

TheTable maintenance in dbForge Studio for MySQL allows you to perform a variety of optimization tasks, including:

  • Parse Table
  • Table Optimization
  • Check for table errors
  • Checksum
  • Restoration

There are several ways to enter the table upkeep mechanism from dbForge Studio for MySQL.

For Example

Select the Table Maintenance possibility from the Database menu, as displayed in the screenshot below.

The Table Maintenance Tool appears, as illustrated in the screenshot below. You must specify a database linkage and title and pick one or more MySQL tables to optimize.

Connect to MySQL through SSH Tunnel

When running optimizations via phpMyAdmin, the page tends to time out due to occasional failures. It could be because the database is too large for phpMyAdmin to handle. An alternative is to optimize via SSH. SSH to the domain as a shell user and run the following command, which is the same function as running on phpMyAdmin:

[Server]$ mysqlcheck -h HOSTNAME -u USERNAME -p -o DATABASE

Substitute the variables in the overhead command with the fundamental database details.

USERNAME – Database user name

HOSTNAME – The database hostname you have set is still valid.

DATABASE – The name of the database on which you run this command.

Summary

In this article, we’ll take a closer look at best practices for database optimization and some useful MySQL performance tuning tips that developers should know about. It is a perfect guide for backend developers concerned about poor database performance and who need a convenient technique to optimize the MySQL database from the core. So first, practice optimizing MySQL Table by the above directions, and soon you will get expertise.