Database Tuning

The database sets the speed limit for every dynamic WordPress action (login, checkout, admin, search, AJAX). This module focuses on practical MySQL/MariaDB tuning for WordPress: InnoDB memory, connection limits, indexing, and the diagnostic workflows that reveal slow plugins and queries.

Lesson	Description
Foundation	How WordPress queries execute and where database tuning helps.
MariaDB vs MySQL	How to choose an engine and what differences matter for WordPress.
InnoDB Buffer Pool	Size InnoDB memory to reduce disk I/O without causing OOM/swap issues.
Query Cache	Why query cache is a trap for WordPress and how to ensure it's disabled.
Connection Tuning	Align DB connection limits with PHP worker concurrency and real traffic patterns.
Query Log Configuration	Enable the slow query log safely and analyze which queries/plugins are slow.
WP-Specific Indexing	Add targeted indexes to wp_postmeta/wp_options when slow logs prove they're needed.
Monitoring DB Health	Use InnoDB status, process list, and disk I/O to spot contention and regressions.
Checklist & Cheatsheet	A deployment checklist for database tuning and verification.