I’m working with a MySQL table that has over 300 columns. These columns come from different data sources like customer surveys, calculated statistics, and user profile data. I need to find a way to treat specific column groups as separate entities while keeping everything in one table. Is there a MySQL feature that lets me create indexes for column groups and maybe assign names to these groups? I want to maintain data consistency but make the table easier to manage. Any suggestions on how to handle this situation would be really helpful.
300 columns? that’s a maintenance nightmare waiting to happen. why not use JSON columns for the grouped fields? MySQL handles JSON data types well and you can index specific paths. way cleaner than wrestling with all those columns.
MySQL doesn’t support named column groups or group-level indexing directly, but you can manage a large table by using views to logically separate and group related columns (e.g., one view for survey data, one for statistics), making the table easier to work with. Additionally, composite indexes can be created on multiple related columns to optimize queries. Consider using column naming conventions (like prefixing: survey_, stat_, profile_) to keep fields organized, and manage metadata separately (e.g., in documentation or a schema mapping table) for easier maintenance.