Sorting versus indexing in Database

Sorting versus indexing in Database Sorting and indexing both are important parts of the Database management system. Here is discussed  Sort...

Sorting versus indexing in Database

Sorting and indexing both are important parts of the Database management system. Here is discussed Sorting versus indexing in the DBMS.

Sorting 

Sorting means setting data properly. It can be defined as this. Sorting is arranging records from a table concerning specific fields. It makes the searching process of data easier.

We have to remember that after sorting a new table created in the database. Also the serial number of the data file record changes. If we update any record from data then sorted files don’t update. In that case, we have to apply the sorting operation again on the updated table. Sorting the records takes more time.

Your database must need security. read how to secure a database.

Types of sorting

1.  Ascending
2.  Descending

1. Ascending sorting: Ascending sorting is sorting the data smaller to bigger.
2. Descending sorting: Descending sorting is sorting the data bigger to smaller.

Example:

18,9,23,4,7,88,10 are unsorted data.

If we sort this in ascending order we get,

4, 7,9,10,18,23,88

If we sort this in descending order we get,

88,23,18,10,9,7,4

Sorting is also applicable to the words.

Example:

Master, Buy, Yellow, Net, Act, People

Ascending sort: Act, Buy, Net, People, Yellow

Descending sort: Yellow, People, Net, Buy, Act

Sorting is not applicable in Hyperlink, OLE field, Memo

Sorting tables examples

Join_Info

E_id	Name	Join_date
1011	Jordan	11.11.18
1009	Hassan	18.01.19
1017	Eliza	24.03.18
1008	Stephen	30.12.18

On this table, if we apply to sort concerning Name then we get

Ascending:

Join_Info

E_id	Name	Join_date
1017	Eliza	24.03.18
1009	Hassan	18.01.19
1011	Jordan	11.11.18
1008	Stephen	30.12.18

Descending:

Join_Info

E_id	Name	Join_date
1008	Stephen	30.12.18
1011	Jordan	11.11.18
1009	Hassan	18.01.19
1017	Eliza	24.03.18

And if we apply to sort concerning E_id then we get 

Ascending:

Join_Info

E_id	Name	Join_date
1017	Eliza	24.03.18
1011	Jordan	11.11.18
1009	Hassan	18.01.19
1008	Stephen	30.12.18

Descending:

Join_Info

E_id	Name	Join_date
1008	Stephen	30.12.18
1009	Hassan	18.01.19
1011	Jordan	11.11.18
1017	Eliza	24.03.18

We can apply to sort concerning multiple fields.

Indexing

In indexing, no change will occur in the main table. A new index file will be created. In this file, there will be no record. Only the logical order will be seen. There will be no change in the sequence number of records in the main data file. If we update or delete any records then indexed file updates automatically. It takes less time for record orders.

Example:

Join_Info

E_id	Name	Join_date
1011	Jordan	11.11.18
1009	Hassan	18.01.19
1017	Eliza	24.03.18
1008	Stephen	30.12.18

After indexing with respect to E_id in ascending order we get,

 Sorting versus indexing

Sorting	Indexing
Arranging records basing on specific fields.	Not changing the main table arranging the records of data table basing on the selective field.
Sequence numbers of records in main data file changes.	Sequence numbers of records in the main data file do not changes.
If any record updates, sorted files don’t update automatically.	Indexed file updates automatically if any update occurs.
More time takes for arranging the records.	Less time takes for arranging the records.
The sorting process takes more memory.	The indexing process takes less memory