Most load tests send traffic to HTTP endpoints to measure response times, error rates, and other metrics. While these tests paint a high-level picture, it can be hard to pinpoint specific bottlenecks. You may have a single page application (SPA) that requires browser-based testing or complex database queries that need database specific load tests.
Read about why you may want to load test your database and some strategies to go about it.
Use these strategies to improve the performance of your databases and reduce associated costs.
- Ensure Proper Indexing
Indexing speeds up the data retrieval process, but it’s important to strike the right balance between excessive indexing and no indexing at all.
- Avoid Using * Queries
Queries should specify the data that is required rather than using a catch-all in order to avoid returning unnecessary columns — both now and in the future.
- Consolidate Queries Where Possible
Never use loops that generate multiple independent SQL queries. Instead, group these queries into a single request to speed up the process.
- Avoid N+1 Queries
On a related note, avoid nesting queries such that a parent query triggers multiple child queries. Instead, have the parent request the children at the same time.
- Eliminate Unused Tables
Unused tables create a drag on performance since they must still be searched by the SQL server, so deleting them is a good way to improve performance.
- Use Where for Filters
HAVING statements may be one way to filter a query based on conditions, but WHERE is far more efficient at doing so.
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