Index and filter fields

Each database field that you define for the application group can be used to index or filter data stored in the database. In general, index fields speed up queries, but require additional disk space to implement and slow down the data loading process.

When do you index a field?

• When the field is used by itself to uniquely identify a document.
• When the field is used in most of the queries for documents.

When don't you index a field?

• When the field is used for informational purposes.
• When the field is never used by itself to uniquely identify a document. That is, the field always requires an index field to identify a document. A filter causes a sequential search of the application group.

Note: Date fields should almost always be defined as filters, not indexes.