What is the primary purpose of indexing?

The primary purpose of indexing is to improve search speed for specific items within a database or data structure. Indexing involves creating a data structure that allows for efficient retrieval of records based on certain keys or attributes. When an index is created, it provides a way to quickly locate data without having to scan the entire dataset. This is particularly important in large databases where searching through each record individually would be time-consuming and inefficient.

Indexes work similarly to the index of a book; instead of reading the entire book to find information, you can use the index to directly locate the desired section. By reducing the amount of data that needs to be scanned when executing search queries, indexing significantly speeds up data retrieval times, enhancing the overall performance and responsiveness of the system.

The other options refer to aspects like data security, summarization, and integrity, which are important for database management but do not directly relate to the primary function of indexing. Indexing's main utility lies in optimizing search operations, making it crucial for scenarios where rapid data access is essential.