What is a consequence of having inadequate indexing in a database?

When indexing in a database is inadequate, one key consequence is higher resource consumption during full table scans. In a database, an index is a data structure that improves the speed of data retrieval operations on a database table at the cost of additional space and maintenance overhead. When there are no proper indexes in place, the database is unable to quickly locate the relevant rows for a query.

As a result, it may resort to performing a full table scan, which means it will check every single row in the table to find the requested data. This process is resource-intensive, consuming substantial CPU cycles and I/O operations as it reads through all the data. This not only leads to slower performance for the specific query but can also impact overall system performance if multiple queries are being run concurrently, as they will all compete for these limited resources.

This situation contrasts with having an adequate indexing strategy, where the database can use indexes to quickly hone in on relevant records, significantly reducing the amount of data it needs to sift through and improving response times for queries. Overall, the consequence of higher resource consumption during full table scans highlights the importance of proper indexing in database management for maintaining efficient performance.