database indexes

[LordRogaine]

I'm using mysql with php. I'm just a little confused with something. I have placed some indexes in the tables of my database. For arguments sake let's say these are the indexes with the corresponding columns....index_one(column_1), index_two(column_two), index_three(column_three).

When I write my script in php I use the name of the columns in my select statement. Do I have to mention the name of the indexes themselves somewhere in the script to make them fully operational?

Thanks for any advice.

Lord Rogaine

[LordShryku]

No, indexes are automaticly used.

[LordRogaine]

Ok, now that I know that the indexes are not automatically used...How would I initiate the use of an index? Let's assume the names of my indexes are "blue", "orange" and "red" the names of the columns I want to attach them to would be "Steve", "Noah" and "Jon". Would I make a select statement to look something like this? Would this even work? How far off am I?

$result = mysql_query("select userid from USERS where blue(Steve)='$Steve' and orange(Noah)='$Noah' and red(Jon)='$Jon'") or die (mysql_error());