Fair Choice Between Range and Index_merge Optimizations

index_merge is a method used by the optimizer to retrieve rows from a single table using several index scans. The results of the scans are then merged.

When using EXPLAIN, if index_merge is the plan chosen by the optimizer, it will show up in the "type" column. For example:

MariaDB [ontime]> SELECT COUNT(*) FROM ontime;
+--------+
|count(*)|
+--------+
| 1578171|
+--------+

MySQL [ontime]> EXPLAIN SELECT * FROM ontime WHERE (Origin='SEA' OR Dest='SEA');
+--+-----------+------+-----------+-------------+-----------+-------+----+-----+--------------------------------------+
|id|select_type|table |type       |possible_keys|key        |key_len|ref |rows |Extra                                 |
+--+-----------+------+-----------+-------------+-----------+-------+----+-----+--------------------------------------+
| 1|SIMPLE     |ontime|index_merge|Origin,Dest  |Origin,Dest|6,6    |NULL|92800|Using union (Origin,Dest); Using where|
+--+-----------+------+-----------+-------------+-----------+-------+----+-----+--------------------------------------+

The "rows" column gives us a way to compare efficiency between index_merge and other plans.

It is sometimes necessary to discard index_merge in favor of a different plan to avoid a combinatorial explosion of possible range and/or index_merge strategies. But, the old logic in MySQL for when index_merge was rejected caused some good index_merge plans to not even be considered. Specifically, additional AND predicates in WHERE clauses could cause an index_merge plan to be rejected in favor of a less efficient plan. The slowdown could be anywhere from 10x to over 100x. Here are two examples (based on the previous query) using MySQL:

MySQL [ontime]> EXPLAIN SELECT * FROM ontime WHERE (Origin='SEA' OR Dest='SEA') AND securitydelay=0;
+--+-----------+------+----+-------------------------+-------------+-------+-----+------+-----------+
|id|select_type|table |type|possible_keys            |key          |key_len|ref  |rows  |Extra      |
+--+-----------+------+----+-------------------------+-------------+-------+-----+------+-----------+
| 1|SIMPLE     |ontime|ref |Origin,Dest,SecurityDelay|SecurityDelay|5      |const|791546|Using where|
+--+-----------+------+----+-------------------------+-------------+-------+-----+------+-----------+

MySQL [ontime]> EXPLAIN SELECT * FROM ontime WHERE (Origin='SEA' OR Dest='SEA') AND depdelay < 12*60;
+--+-----------+------+----+--------------------+----+-------+----+-------+-----------+
|id|select_type|table |type|possible_keys       |key |key_len|ref |rows   |Extra      |
+--+-----------+------+----+--------------------+----+-------+----+-------+-----------+
| 1|SIMPLE     |ontime|ALL |Origin,DepDelay,Dest|NULL|NULL   |NULL|1583093|Using where|
+--+-----------+------+----+--------------------+----+-------+----+-------+-----------

In the above output, the "rows" column shows that the first is almost 10x less efficient and the second is over 15x less efficient than index_merge.

Starting in MariaDB 5.3, the optimizer will delay discarding potential index_merge plans until the point where it is really necessary. See MWL#24 for more information.

By not discarding potential index_merge plans until absolutely necessary, the two queries stay just as efficient as the original:

MariaDB [ontime]> EXPLAIN SELECT * FROM ontime WHERE (Origin='SEA' or Dest='SEA');
+--+-----------+------+-----------+-------------+-----------+-------+----+-----+-------------------------------------+
|id|select_type|table |type       |possible_keys|key        |key_len|ref |rows |Extra                                |
+--+-----------+------+-----------+-------------+-----------+-------+----+-----+-------------------------------------+
| 1|SIMPLE     |ontime|index_merge|Origin,Dest  |Origin,Dest|6,6    |NULL|92800|Using union(Origin,Dest); Using where|
+--+-----------+------+-----------+-------------+-----------+-------+----+-----+-------------------------------------+

MariaDB [ontime]> EXPLAIN SELECT * FROM ontime WHERE (Origin='SEA' or Dest='SEA') AND securitydelay=0;
+--+-----------+------+-----------+-------------------------+-----------+-------+----+-----+-------------------------------------+
|id|select_type|table |type       |possible_keys            |key        |key_len|ref |rows |Extra                                |
+--+-----------+------+-----------+-------------------------+-----------+-------+----+-----+-------------------------------------+
| 1|SIMPLE     |ontime|index_merge|Origin,Dest,SecurityDelay|Origin,Dest|6,6    |NULL|92800|Using union(Origin,Dest); Using where|
+--+-----------+------+-----------+-------------------------+-----------+-------+----+-----+-------------------------------------+

MariaDB [ontime]> EXPLAIN SELECT * FROM ontime WHERE (Origin='SEA' or Dest='SEA') AND depdelay < 12*60;
+--+-----------+------+-----------+--------------------+-----------+-------+----+-----+-------------------------------------+
|id|select_type|table |type       |possible_keys       |key        |key_len|ref |rows |Extra                                |
+--+-----------+------+-----------+--------------------+-----------+-------+----+-----+-------------------------------------+
| 1|SIMPLE     |ontime|index_merge|Origin,DepDelay,Dest|Origin,Dest|6,6    |NULL|92800|Using union(Origin,Dest); Using where|
+--+-----------+------+-----------+--------------------+-----------+-------+----+-----+-------------------------------------+

This new behavior is always on and there is no need to enable it. There are no known issues or gotchas with this new optimization.

See Also

Comments

Comments loading...
Content reproduced on this site is the property of its respective owners, and this content is not reviewed in advance by MariaDB. The views, information and opinions expressed by this content do not necessarily represent those of MariaDB or any other party.