according to: http://dev.mysql.com/doc/refman/5.0/en/explain.html
"The key_len column indicates the length of the key that MySQL decided to use. The length is NULL if the key column says NULL. Note that the value of key_len enables you to determine how many parts of a multiple-part key MySQL actually uses." there are special exceptions to that for index_merge and range join types. The manual agrees; you are correct; it's the length of the key. Where did you find that other statement? It might be the index_merge join type's key_len... Sincerely, Sheeri On 2/1/06, James Harvard <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > According to the manual "the value of key_len enables you to determine how > many parts of a multiple-part key MySQL actually uses." > > However, it doesn't specify quite how one can determine that. It _looks_ like > the number of bytes in the key (or key part) that is used - is that correct? > > TIA, > James Harvard > > -- > MySQL General Mailing List > For list archives: http://lists.mysql.com/mysql > To unsubscribe: http://lists.mysql.com/[EMAIL PROTECTED] > > -- MySQL General Mailing List For list archives: http://lists.mysql.com/mysql To unsubscribe: http://lists.mysql.com/[EMAIL PROTECTED]
