Lecture 11 - Indexing – Definition – Importance – Types of indexing with
advantages and limitations
In general, indexing refers to the organization of data according to a specific schema
or plan. In IT, the term has various similar uses including, among other things, making
information more presentable and accessible.
―Indexing‖ is a theory of news content and press-state relations first formulated as
the ―in
dexing hypothesis.‖ ... Indexing theory thus attempts to predict the nature of the
content of news about political and policy topics.
Importance of Indexing
Digital Index. Digital indexing is a way of finding documents but on a computer
system, not in an office. Businesses use software to help file records,
and indexinginvolves titling files and adding keywords. File names
are important because they must be searchable.
Index is not something publishers put at the end of the book because of tradition.
It is included to help readers locate important information contained in the text. Indexes
should support all levels of user subject experience.
Book Index/Page Index
A book or page index involves a large bound volume set up alphabetically. It
looks like a large version of an address book with the alphabet laid out on the right side
of the index. This makes it easy to open the book to the right section. The records are
notated within the book and state where each is located in the office. The files can be
filed by name of the client, of their business, or however is easiest to remember. The
system should be uniform throughout/
Card Index
Card indexing is usually seen in large libraries. The records are notated on strong
quality cards of a uniform size, then filed in a cabinet in an order specific to the business.
The cards can be filed alphabetically or numerically (i.e. invoice numbers). This allows
for constant adding of records over time, because the cards can be added to the original
set without any issues. Card indexing uses individual and unattached cards so the card
can be pulled out of the file and put back when needed.
Strip Index
Strip indexing is a rarer form of indexing. Visualize a set of small strips on card
stock, placed so each is visible. These strips are then attached on the left by binding
string/ribbon or metal rings. This will make all records visible instead of having to thumb
through them. The strip index can hang up on a wall. This also means that this system
cannot carry as much information on the strip. The records can be indexed per the
business need, alphabetically or numerically would be find
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Rotary Index
A rotary index is the classic style that you see in the image above. It is similar to
the card index but placed in a simple wheel, so the numeric or alphabetic filing system on
top of the cards is visible. Rotaries can contain many files, and cards can be added as
more records are created. Since most sit atop desks, rotary indexes are cumbersome, but
they make records accessible to everyone.
Advantages
• Speed up SELECT query
• Helps to make a row unique or without duplicates(primary,unique)
• If index is set to fill-text index, then we can search against large string values. for
example to find a word from a sentence etc.
Disadvantages
• Indexes take additional disk space.
• Indexes slow down INSERT,UPDATE and DELETE, but will speed up UPDATE
if the WHERE condition has an indexed field. INSERT, UPDATE and DELETE
becomes slower because on each operation the indexes must also be updated.
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