= CREATE INDEX
:description: Defines a new index for a single column of a table.

Define a new index on a single column of a table.
If the column already contains data, it is indexed during the execution of this statement.
After an index has been created, it is automatically updated when data in the column changes.
{product} supports creating an index on most columns, including the partition and cluster columns of a PRIMARY KEY, collections, and static columns.
Indexing via this `CREATE INDEX` command can impact performance.
Before creating an index, be aware of when and xref:cassandra:developing/cql/indexing/2i/2i-when-to-use.adoc#when-no-index[when not to create an index].

Use xref:cassandra:developing/cql/create-custom-index.adoc[CREATE CUSTOM INDEX] for Storage-Attached Indexes (SAI).

*Restriction:* Indexing counter columns is not supported.
For maps, index the key, value, or entries.

== Synopsis

// tag::syntax[]
----
CREATE INDEX [ IF NOT EXISTS ] <index_name>
  ON [<keyspace_name>.]<table_name>
  ([ ( KEYS | FULL ) ] <column_name>)
  (ENTRIES <column_name>) ;
----
// end::syntax[]

.Syntax legend
[%collapsible]
====
include:cassandra:partial$cql-syntax-legend.adoc[]
====

*index_name*::
Optional identifier for index.
If no name is specified, DataStax Enterprise
// audience="astra" DataStax Astra
names the index: `<table_name>_<column_name>_idx`.
Enclose in quotes to use special characters or preserve capitalization.

== Examples

=== Creating an index on a clustering column

Define a table having a xref:cassandra:reference/cql-commands/create-table.adoc#cqlPKcomposite[composite partition key], and then create an index on a clustering column.

[source,language-cql]
----
include::cassandra:example$CQL/sai/rank_by_year_and_name-table.cql[tag=compositepk]
----

[source,language-cql]
----
include::cassandra:example$CQL/sai/rank_by_year_and_name-table.cql[tag=createindex]
----

=== Creating an index on a set or list collection

Create an index on a set or list collection column as you would any other column.
Enclose the name of the collection column in parentheses at the end of the `CREATE INDEX` statement.
For example, add a collection of teams to the `cyclist_career_teams` table to index the data in the teams set.

[source,language-cql]
----
include::cassandra:example$CQL/sai/cyclist_career_teams-table.cql[tag=setColumn]
----

[source,language-cql]
----
include::cassandra:example$CQL/sai/cyclist_career_teams-table.cql[tag=createidxset]
----

[[CreatIdxCollKey]]
=== Creating an index on map keys

You can create an index on xref:cassandra:developingindexing/2i/2i-create-on-collection.adoc[map collection keys].
If an index of the map values of the collection exists, drop that index before creating an index on the map collection keys.
Assume a cyclist table contains this map data:

[source,no-highlight]
----
{'nation':'CANADA' }
----

The map key is located to the left of the colon, and the map value is located to the right of the colon.

To index map keys, use the `KEYS` keyword and map name in nested parentheses:

[source,language-cql]
----
include::cassandra:example$CQL/sai/cyclist_teams-table.cql[tag=keysidx]
----

To query the table, you can use xref:cassandra:developing/cql/dml.adoc#allow-filtering[CONTAINS KEY] in `WHERE` clauses.

[source,language-cql]
----
include::cassandra:example$CQL/sai/cyclist_teams-table.cql[tag=queryindexkey]
----

The example returns cyclist teams that have an entry for the year 2015.

[source,results]
----
include::cassandra:example$RESULTS/sai/cyclist_team-queries.result[]
----

=== Creating an index on map entries

You can create an index on map entries.
An `ENTRIES` index can be created only on a map column of a table that doesn't have an existing index.

To index collection entries, use the `ENTRIES` keyword and map name in nested parentheses:

[source,language-cql]
include::cassandra:example$CQL/sai/birthday_list_map_entries-table.cql[tag=entriesidx]
----

To query the map entries in the table, use a `WHERE` clause with the map name and a value.

[source,language-cql]
----
include::cassandra:example$CQL/sai/birthday_list_map_entries-table.cql[tag=ageentryquery]
----

The example finds cyclists who are the same age.

[source,results]
----
include::cassandra:example$RESULTS/sai/select_from_birthday_list_where_age_23.result[]
----

Use the same index to find cyclists from the same country.

----
include::cassandra:example$CQL/sai/birthday_list_map_entries-table.cql[tag=nationentryquery]
----

[source,results]
----
include::cassandra:example$RESULTS/sai/select_from_birthday_list_where_nation_netherlands.result[]
----

=== Creating an index on map values

To create an index on map values, use the `VALUES` keyword and map name in nested parentheses:

----
include::cassandra:example$CQL/sai/birthday_list_map_entries-table.cql[tag=mapvaluesidx]
----

To query the table, use a `WHERE` clause with the map name and the value it contains.

----
include::cassandra:example$CQL/sai/birthday_list_map_entries-table.cql[tag=nationvaluesquery]
----

[source,results]
----
include::cassandra:example$RESULTS/sai/select_from_birthday_list_where_nation_netherlands_2.result[]
----

=== Creating an index on the full content of a frozen collection

You can create an index on a full `FROZEN` collection.
A `FULL` index can be created on a set, list, or map column of a table that doesn't have an existing index.

Create an index on the full content of a `FROZEN` `list`.
The table in this example stores the number of Pro wins, Grand Tour races, and Classic races that a cyclist has competed in.

[source,language-cql]
----
include::cassandra:example$CQL/sai/race_starts-table.cql[tag=frozenlist]
----

To index collection entries, use the `FULL` keyword and collection name in nested parentheses.
For example, index the frozen list `rnumbers`.

[source,language-cql]
----
include::cassandra:example$CQL/sai/race_starts-table.cql[tag=fullindex]
----

To query the table, use a `WHERE` clause with the collection name and values:

[source,language-cql]
----
include::cassandra:example$CQL/sai/race_starts-table.cql[tag=selectrnumbers]
----

[source,results]
----
include::cassandra:example$RESULTS/sai/race_starts-queries.result[]
----
