See Also child table, constraint, DML, foreign key, NULL. 

FTS 

 In most contexts, an acronym for full-text search . Sometimes in performance discussions, an acronym for full table scan . 

See Also full table scan, full-text search. 

full backup 

 A backup  that includes all the tables  in each MySQL database , and all the databases in a MySQL instance . Contrast with partial backup . See Also backup, database, instance, partial backup, table. 

full table scan 

 An operation that requires reading the entire contents of a table, rather than just selected portions using an index . Typically performed either with small lookup tables, or in data warehousing situations with large tables where all available data is aggregated and analyzed. How frequently these operations occur, and the sizes of the tables relative to available memory, have implications for the algorithms used in query optimization and managing the buffer pool . 

The purpose of indexes is to allow lookups for specific values or ranges of values within a large table, thus avoiding full table scans when practical. See Also buffer pool, index. 

full-text search 

 The MySQL feature for finding words, phrases, Boolean combinations of words, and so on within table data, in a faster, more convenient, and more flexible way than using the SQL LIKE  operator or writing your own application- level search algorithm. It uses the SQL function MATCH()  and FULLTEXT indexes . See Also FULLTEXT index. 

FULLTEXT index 

 The special kind of index  that holds the search index  in the MySQL full-text search  mechanism. Represents the words from values of a column, omitting any that are specified as stopwords . Originally, only available for MyISAM  tables. Starting in MySQL 5.6.4, it is also available for InnoDB  tables. See Also full-text search, index, InnoDB, search index, stopword. 

fuzzy checkpointing 

 A technique that flushes  small batches of dirty pages  from the buffer pool , rather than flushing all dirty pages at once which would disrupt database processing. See Also buffer pool, dirty page, flush. 

## G 

GA 

 “Generally available” , the stage when a software product leaves beta  and is available for sale, official support, and production use. See Also beta. 

## GAC 

 Acronym for “Global Assembly Cache” . A central area for storing libraries ( assemblies ) on a .NET  system. Physically consists of nested folders, treated as a single virtual folder by the .NET  CLR. See Also .NET, assembly. 

## gap 

 A place in an InnoDB index  data structure where new values could be inserted. When you lock a set of rows with a statement such as SELECT ... FOR UPDATE , InnoDB  can create locks that apply to the gaps as well as 

