Optimizing Tables For Searching

[Sharif]

Hey,

I am working on a PHP script that will allow users to search through the mysql tables for records like this forums search does. My question is, what can I do to optimize the tables for searching? Convert searchable fields to fulltext? Things of that sort. Thanks.

[delfa]

Yes!

convert all the columns that u want to search to fulltext and instead of using ........where column like '%text%' use :

where match (column) against ('text')

that´s what i´m doing

[drawmack]

also make sure you repair and optimize your tables on a daily basis.