Why Database Design Matters
Poor database design is the leading cause of performance issues in large projects. Changing the schema after launch is very painful and risky.
Common Mistakes
1. No Normalization
Avoid repeating data across rows. Use properly related tables with foreign keys instead.
2. Wrong Data Types
Use ENUM or TINYINT(1) for status/boolean fields instead of VARCHAR(255) everywhere.
3. Missing Indexes and Foreign Keys
Index all columns used in frequent WHERE or ORDER BY queries. Add composite indexes for multi-column filters. Always define foreign key constraints.
4. Overusing JSON Columns
JSON columns are useful for truly unstructured data, but not as a replacement for proper relational tables and pivot tables.
5. Forgetting Soft Delete
Add SoftDeletes to models where data recovery might be needed. It only costs one database column.
Golden Rule
Think through your database design before writing any code. Time spent designing saves multiple times more time in the future.