See why hundreds of industry leaders trust Secoda to unlock their data's full potential.
See why hundreds of industry leaders trust Secoda to unlock their data's full potential.
Get the guideSnowflake indexes are secondary indexes designed to improve the performance of data retrieval operations on hybrid tables in Snowflake. These secondary indexes enhance query performance by allowing faster access to specific columns within a table. Introduced in select AWS regions, Snowflake indexes can be created using the CREATE INDEX SQL command, although they are not available to trial accounts.
The creation of a Snowflake index is a non-blocking or online operation, meaning that the hybrid table remains available for SELECT and DML (Data Manipulation Language) statements during the index build. This feature ensures minimal disruption to ongoing database operations, providing a seamless experience for users.
CREATE [ OR REPLACE ] INDEX [ IF NOT EXISTS ] <index_name> ( <col_name> [, <col_name> ] ) ON <table_name>
Parameters
Several key restrictions and requirements apply to Snowflake indexes:
VARIANT, cannot be used in a secondary index.SHOW INDEXES command. Possible statuses include ACTIVE, SUSPENDED, BUILD FAILURE, or BUILD IN PROGRESS.CREATE OR REPLACE HYBRID TABLE mytable (
pk INT PRIMARY KEY,
val INT,
val2 INT
);
INSERT INTO mytable
SELECT seq, seq + 100, seq + 200
FROM (SELECT seq8() seq FROM TABLE(GENERATOR(rowcount => 100)) v);
CREATE OR REPLACE INDEX vidx (val) ON mytable;
If the index build fails, it can be dropped with the following command:
DROP INDEX vidx ON mytable;
Snowflake indexes significantly enhance query performance by allowing faster access to specific columns within a table. Here are some key ways they improve performance:
SHOW INDEXES command provides transparency and control over the indexing process. This feature allows administrators to track progress and identify any issues that may arise during the build.While Snowflake indexes offer significant benefits, they also come with certain limitations:
VARIANT, cannot be used in a secondary index. This restriction can limit the flexibility of indexing in scenarios where such data types are prevalent.Comparing Snowflake indexes with traditional database indexes reveals several unique features and limitations:
Feature Snowflake Indexes Traditional Database Indexes Non-Blocking Creation Yes Varies by database Unique Index Names Required within the hybrid table Required Column Type Restrictions Certain types like VARIANT not allowed Depends on the database Single Build Operation Only one active build per table Varies by database Index Status Monitoring Available using SHOW INDEXES Varies by database tools DML Transaction Impact Aborts if idle for more than 5 minutes Depends on the database
When using Snowflake indexes, several practical considerations must be taken into account:
OWNERSHIP privilege on the hybrid table. This requirement ensures that only authorized users can create or modify indexes, maintaining data integrity and security.Snowflake indexes are one of many tools available for optimizing database performance. They complement other techniques such as:
Snowflake indexes are particularly beneficial in scenarios where:
SHOW INDEXES command to monitor the status and identify issues.VARIANT and other unsupported types in secondary indexes.Snowflake indexes offer a powerful tool for improving query performance on hybrid tables. By providing non-blocking, online index creation, Snowflake ensures minimal disruption to ongoing database operations. While there are some limitations, such as column type restrictions and the single index build operation, the benefits of enhanced query performance and index status monitoring make Snowflake indexes a valuable addition to the database optimization toolkit. Careful planning and coordination are essential to effectively leverage Snowflake indexes and maximize their impact on database performance.
Built for data teams, designed for everyone so you can get more from your data stack.
© 2024 Secoda, Inc. All rights reserved.
By using this website, you accept our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
