A Level Computer Science OCR Practice Exam

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What term is used for a data structure that improves the speed of data retrieval in a database?

Normalization
Indexing
Encryption
Data mining

The correct answer is: Indexing

The term used for a data structure that enhances the speed of data retrieval in a database is indexing. Indexing creates a data structure that allows the database management system to locate and access data more efficiently. When an index is applied to a particular column or set of columns, it enables quicker searches and retrievals by providing a map to the data rather than the system having to scan each record sequentially. Normalization refers to the process of organizing the data within a database to reduce redundancy and improve data integrity, but it does not directly enhance retrieval speed like indexing does. Encryption involves securing data to prevent unauthorized access, which is critical for data protection but not related to retrieval speed. Data mining is the practice of analyzing large datasets to discover patterns and extract valuable information, but it doesn't focus specifically on data retrieval speeds within a database structure.