Database Indexes Are Product Decisions

An index is not just a database trick. It is a statement about what the product needs to find, filter, sort, or enforce quickly.

Start with user journeys: search orders by status, list invoices by customer, find messages by conversation, show recent activity. Those are product needs. Then design indexes around the read paths and constraints that keep those needs reliable.

Good indexing keeps your system calm as data grows. Bad indexing hides until the business gets traction, then turns normal screens into waiting rooms.