What role do database indexes play in managing concurrency and performance?
Database indexes are essential tools in the realm of database administration. They serve as a roadmap to your data, allowing for quick retrieval and efficient query performance. Imagine you're looking for a specific book in a library; without a catalog, you'd have to scour every shelf. Indexes provide a similar catalog for databases, directing queries to the right location swiftly. However, they're not just about speed; indexes also play a pivotal role in managing concurrency, which is the ability to handle multiple operations simultaneously. Proper indexing strategies can help balance the load, ensuring that your database can serve many users at once without a hitch.