What is KEY generally refers to in MySQL?

Question

I have copied the create statement to clipboard. Its showing

Key portion:

PRIMARY KEY (ID), KEY contID (contID)

What does the KEY refers to and What type of KEY it is?

can you paste whole create statement? Which version are you using? — DevelopmentIsMyPassion, Feb 11 '13 at 07:19

score 2 · Answer 1 · answered Feb 11 '13 at 07:21

2

KEY creates an index (or key) on the column for faster look up on that column in queries. Generally you would use KEY on a column that is used in joins and WHERE clauses.

http://dev.mysql.com/doc/refman/5.1/en/mysql-indexes.html

answered Feb 11 '13 at 07:21

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score 2 · Answer 2 · answered Feb 11 '13 at 07:22

From 13.1.14. CREATE TABLE Syntax

{INDEX|KEY}

KEY is a synonym for INDEX

8.3.2. Using Primary Keys

The PRIMARY KEY for a table represents the column or set of columns that you use in your most vital queries. It has an associated index, for fast query performance.

What is KEY generally refers to in MySQL?

2 Answers2