Database Tuning

The process of making a database application run faster is known as database tuning. The activities involved in database tuning commonly include increasing response time, eliminating bottlenecks, and avoiding queries that take an extremely long time to return results. It is important to remember that database tuning is an ongoing process that needs to be revisited as your database grows and the functionality of the application changes.

When attempting to increase the response time of a database application, there are a few areas that should be focused on first. This could include adjusting the sizes of the database cache. The process should also involve tuning the database indexes.

Adjusting the Cache Size

The database cache is used to store frequently accessed data and read-only procedures, packages, and functions. The general purpose of the database cache is to speed up SQL code processing by taking some of the load off of the server. Most of the properties of the database cache are set at database creation and can't be changed, but the buffer size (db_block_buffers) can be adjusted to better handle your application's workload.

Using Indexes

Use of efficient indexes is essential for effective database tuning. An index is an object in a database that provides quick access to data contained in select rows of a table, based on key values. Indexes are helpful for tuning the database because they optimize the way queries retrieve and update data.