What are the best practices for structuring MySQL tables in PHP applications to optimize search functionality?

When structuring MySQL tables in PHP applications to optimize search functionality, it is important to properly index the columns that will be frequently searched. This can significantly improve search performance by allowing MySQL to quickly locate the relevant data. Additionally, utilizing full-text search indexes for text-based searches can further enhance search speed and accuracy.

// Example of creating an index on a column for optimized search functionality
$sql = "CREATE INDEX idx_name ON users (name)";
$result = mysqli_query($conn, $sql);

// Example of creating a full-text search index on a column for text-based searches
$sql = "CREATE FULLTEXT INDEX idx_description ON products (description)";
$result = mysqli_query($conn, $sql);