covering index

noun

A database table index that contains all the columns needed to fulfill the query.

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Meanings

nouncovering index (plural covering indexes)

plural covering indexes

  1. computingA database table index that contains all the columns needed to fulfill the query.

    Ordinarily, using a covering index will save one disk read (GAIN: 6/8). The gain is automatic but only if the columns in the select list exactly match the columns in the covering index.

    2003, Peter Gulutzan, Trudy Pelzer, SQL Performance Tuning, Addison-Wesley Professional, →ISBN, page 232

Translations

French index couvrant
  • index couvrantTranslations
Cite this entry
APA

covering index. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/covering%20index

MLA

“covering index.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/covering%20index. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “covering index,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/covering%20index.

Source: covering index on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.