Spatial index
A data structure that speeds up spatial queries like intersects and within by narrowing candidates quickly.
Category: Files & Data · Also known as: spatial indexing
Definition (expanded)
Spatial indexes typically index bounding boxes first, then do precise geometry checks on fewer candidates. In databases, spatial indexes are critical for performance on large tables.
Related terms
Bounding Box (BBox)A rectangle that fully contains a geometry, usually represented as [minX, minY, maxX, maxY].R-treeA tree-based spatial index commonly used to index bounding boxes for fast spatial searching.GiST indexA PostgreSQL index type used by PostGIS to accelerate spatial queries on geometry columns.PostGISA spatial extension for PostgreSQL that adds geometry types, indexes, and functions like ST_Intersects and ST_Union.