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Eliminate Unnecessary Indexes to Optimize Performance


Dropping an Index in PostgreSQL

Write a PostgreSQL query to drop an existing index when it is no longer needed.

Solution:

-- Specify the action to drop an index if it exists.
DROP INDEX IF EXISTS idx_employees_lastname;

Explanation:

  • Purpose of the Query:
    • To remove an index that is either obsolete or negatively impacting performance.
  • Key Components:
    • DROP INDEX IF EXISTS : Safely drops the index if it exists, preventing errors.
    • idx_employees_lastname : The name of the index to be removed.

Notes:

  • Dropping unused indexes can save storage space and reduce maintenance overhead.
  • Always verify index usage before removal to avoid performance degradation.

For more Practice: Solve these Related Problems:

  • Write a PostgreSQL query to drop the index "idx_customers_email" on the "Customers" table if it exists.
  • Write a PostgreSQL query to drop the index "idx_orders_date" on the "Orders" table if it exists.
  • Write a PostgreSQL query to drop the index "idx_products_category" on the "Products" table if it exists.
  • Write a PostgreSQL query to drop the index "idx_users_username" on the "Users" table if it exists.


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Previous PostgreSQL Exercise: Creating an Index Concurrently in PostgreSQL.
Next PostgreSQL Exercise: Reindexing a Table in PostgreSQL.

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