Say it like this
- We need to improve our indexing strategy
- Add indexing to speed up queries
- The database is slow because we're missing key indexes
Use it at work
Database
- The query is slow because there's no index on email.
- Let's add an index on created_at.
Search
- The new pages aren't showing up because indexing takes time.
- Search indexing runs every hour.
Code review
- This index will slow down writes.
- Do we need a composite index here?
Don't say this
Use 'add indexing' or 'implement indexing' as noun phrases rather than 'index the database' in formal tech contexts.
Practice
Try it
4 quick exercises
1. The database query was slow until we added _______ on the user_id column.
2. How would a senior engineer most likely suggest improving query speed?
3. Which sentence uses indexing incorrectly?
4. Rewrite this using indexing: 'The search function is slow because the database does not have organized data structures to find information quickly.'
Say it out loud
Phrase 1 of 3
"We need to improve our indexing strategy"
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More about indexing
Real examples(3)
- in a standup
"Yesterday we identified that the user search was slow, so today we're implementing indexing on the email field."
- in a code review
"Good catch on the N+1 query issue. We should add indexing to the foreign key columns to prevent this performance problem."
- in a team meeting
"Database indexing alone won't solve our latency problem. We also need to optimize the query logic."
More mistakes(2)
Handle with care. Do not confuse indexing (creating indexes) with simply accessing array elements by position. Also avoid using it as a verb in casual contexts without clear meaning.
- ✕Indexing will fix all performance issues.✓Indexing can improve query performance significantly, but other optimizations may also be needed.
Indexing is powerful but not a cure-all. Avoid overstating its benefits.
- ✕We indexed the table yesterday.✓We added indexes to the table yesterday.
While 'indexed' is grammatically acceptable, tech professionals more commonly say 'added indexes' to be clearer about the action.
Other forms(3)
- indexing noun
"Proper indexing is essential for database performance."
- index noun
"We created a composite index on user_id and created_date."
- index verb
"We need to index this table to speed up searches."
Often used with(5)
- add indexing · Used when implementing indexes: 'We should add indexing to improve performance.'
- improve indexing · Used when optimizing existing indexes: 'We improved indexing by creating composite indexes.'
- database indexing · Refers specifically to indexes in relational databases.
- search indexing · Used in context of search engines and full-text search systems.
- indexing strategy · The overall approach to which columns or fields to index.
Similar words(2)
- index creation · More formal and explicit, used in technical documentation.
- optimization · Broader term that includes indexing but also other performance improvements.
Opposites(2)
- full table scan
- sequential search
Questions(5)
- What does indexing mean in software engineering?
- Indexing is the process of creating a data structure that maps values to their storage locations, enabling faster data retrieval. Think of it like a book index that lets you jump directly to the right page instead of reading every page. In databases, indexing on a column allows the system to find rows in milliseconds rather than scanning all rows.
- How do you use indexing in a work sentence?
- You can say: 'We need to add indexing to improve performance,' 'The indexing strategy helped reduce query time,' or 'Without proper indexing, the search feature is too slow.' Use it as a noun, typically after verbs like add, implement, apply, or improve.
- What is the difference between indexing and an index?
- An 'index' is the actual data structure created (singular or plural: 'indexes' or 'indices'). 'Indexing' is the process of creating and maintaining those indexes. Example: 'We performed indexing on three columns, which created three new indexes.'
- When do engineers talk about indexing?
- Engineers discuss indexing during database design, performance troubleshooting, code reviews, and infrastructure planning. It comes up when investigating slow queries, preparing for scaling, or optimizing search features.
- Is indexing formal or informal language?
- Indexing is neutral, technical language used in both formal documentation and casual team conversations. It is standard vocabulary in all tech workplaces across the US and UK.
