MySQL invisible indexes let you test whether an index is safe to drop without a destructive change. Here is how PHP and Laravel developers can use them.
Generated columns and functional indexes let MySQL index expressions, JSON paths, and case-insensitive lookups that would otherwise force a full table scan.
The slow query log only shows you part of the picture. Learn to use MySQL Performance Schema to uncover lock waits, I/O lag, and query patterns your logs miss.
JSON columns in MySQL are powerful but misunderstood. Here's a practical guide for PHP developers on when JSON makes sense, how to query it efficiently, and the indexing tricks that keep things fast.