What are the best practices for structuring database tables in relation to PHP scripts to improve performance?

To improve performance when working with PHP scripts and database tables, it is essential to optimize the structure of the tables. This can be achieved by using appropriate data types for columns, indexing frequently queried columns, normalizing the database to reduce redundancy, and avoiding unnecessary joins. By following these best practices, you can enhance the efficiency and speed of your PHP scripts when interacting with the database.

// Example of creating a table with optimized structure
$sql = "CREATE TABLE users (
    id INT(11) PRIMARY KEY,
    username VARCHAR(50) NOT NULL,
    email VARCHAR(100) NOT NULL UNIQUE,
    password VARCHAR(255) NOT NULL,
    created_at TIMESTAMP DEFAULT CURRENT_TIMESTAMP
)";

// Example of indexing a frequently queried column
$sql = "CREATE INDEX idx_username ON users (username)";