Question

Later versions of MySQL support the native JSON data type for storing JSON documents. What is a drawback of JSON columns?

a) Limited storage capacity
b) Slower retrieval speed
c) Lack of indexing support
d) Incompatibility with other data types

Answer 1

The main drawback of JSON columns in MySQL is slower retrieval speed due to the need for parsing, as well as lack of dedicated indexing support which can affect query performance.

Step-by-step explanation:

One notable drawback of JSON columns in MySQL, especially in comparison to standard relational columns, is the potential for slower retrieval speed. This slower performance is primarily due to the fact that JSON documents are stored in a text-based format and require parsing to be read and manipulated. Parsing is a compute-intensive operation, which can lead to increased latency when querying large JSON documents or when performing complex searches within them.

Another consideration is the lack of indexing support for the JSON data type in MySQL. Traditional indexing strategies do not apply well to JSON columns, which can hinder performance when you're trying to execute queries that search for data within the JSON document. While MySQL does offer generated columns that can be indexed and virtual indexes for JSON, these are workarounds and might not be as efficient as the indexing capabilities offered for other data types.

While incompatibility with other data types and limited storage capacity are potential concerns with any data type, they are not the primary issues with JSON columns in MySQL.