Faster Search: Indexes allow the database to locate rows much faster than a full?

Short answer: Faster Search: Indexes allow the database to locate rows much faster than a full? is a common interview topic in SQL & Databases. Give a clear definition, then one concrete example.

Real-world example (ShopNest)

ShopNest adds an index on Orders(CustomerId, CreatedAt) because “my recent orders” is queried constantly.

Say this in the interview

1. Define — one clear sentence (the short answer above).
2. Example — relate it to a project like ShopNest or your real work.
3. Trade-off — when you would not use it.