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MySQL 9.3 Reference Manual  / ...  / Optimization  / Understanding the Query Execution Plan  /  Optimizing Queries with EXPLAIN

10.8.1 Optimizing Queries with EXPLAIN

TheEXPLAIN statement provides information about how MySQL executes statements:

With the help ofEXPLAIN, you can see where you should add indexes to tables so that the statement executes faster by using indexes to find rows. You can also useEXPLAIN to check whether the optimizer joins the tables in an optimal order. To give a hint to the optimizer to use a join order corresponding to the order in which the tables are named in aSELECT statement, begin the statement withSELECT STRAIGHT_JOIN rather than justSELECT. (SeeSection 15.2.13, “SELECT Statement”.) However,STRAIGHT_JOIN may prevent indexes from being used because it disables semijoin transformations. SeeOptimizing IN and EXISTS Subquery Predicates with Semijoin Transformations.

The optimizer trace may sometimes provide information complementary to that ofEXPLAIN. However, the optimizer trace format and content are subject to change between versions. For details, seeSection 10.15, “Tracing the Optimizer”.

If you have a problem with indexes not being used when you believe that they should be, runANALYZE TABLE to update table statistics, such as cardinality of keys, that can affect the choices the optimizer makes. SeeSection 15.7.3.1, “ANALYZE TABLE Statement”.

Note

EXPLAIN can also be used to obtain information about the columns in a table.EXPLAINtbl_name is synonymous withDESCRIBEtbl_name andSHOW COLUMNS FROMtbl_name. For more information, seeSection 15.8.1, “DESCRIBE Statement”, andSection 15.7.7.6, “SHOW COLUMNS Statement”.