optimization - Make MySQL table FIXED by splitting TEXT field into chunks of type CHAR(255) -

fixed mysql table has well-known performance advantages on dynamic table.

there table tags 1 description text field. idea split field 4-8 char(255) fields. insert/update queries divide description chunks (php function str_split()). make table fixed.

have practiced technique? worth it?

ok, done, done have seen done historical reasons, such particular client-server model requires it, or legacy reports segments de facto fields in layout.

the examples have seen free form text entries (remarks, notes, contact log) in insurance/collections applications , formatting on printed report important or there need avoid confusion in post post processing dress format multiple platforms involved. (\r\n vs \n , ebcdic vertical tabs).

so not space/performance/recovery purposes.

if row "mostly" field, alternative create row each segment , add low-range sequence number key.

in way have 1 row short values , 8 long. consider statistics.

caveats :

always acutely aware of mysql indexes dropping trailing spaces. concatenating these should take account if used in index.

this not recommendation, "tags" sounds candidate single varchar field full text indexing. if data important forensic recovery requirement, normalising model store tags in separate table may way go.