An index that carries enough columns to satisfy the whole query

InnoDB covering indexes carry the query's columns

A covering index contains the columns needed to evaluate a particular query and return its requested values. In InnoDB, secondary-index records also carry the primary-key columns, so a query can be covered without explicitly listing the primary key again in the secondary-index definition. Coverage is a relationship between one query and an index, not a permanent property that applies to every query against the table. ...

March 3, 2028 · 4 min · XB Field Notes