How to optimize mysql json_extract?

@aubrey 

When using MySQL's JSON_EXTRACT function, there are a few strategies you can employ to optimize its performance:

1. Utilize indexing: If you frequently perform queries that involve JSON extraction, you can create an index on the JSON column to speed up the retrieval of specific JSON values. MySQL provides support for creating indexes on JSON columns using the JSON data type.
2. Use the ->> operator: The ->> operator is an alternative to the JSON_EXTRACT function that returns the JSON value as a string. In some cases, using ->> can be faster than JSON_EXTRACT as it avoids unnecessary casting and conversions.
3. Limit the extraction range: If you know the exact path of the JSON value you are interested in, you can specify it directly in the JSON_EXTRACT function instead of using wildcards or complex search patterns. This can help reduce the amount of computation required by the function.
4. Combine multiple operations: Instead of performing multiple JSON_EXTRACT operations in separate queries, try combining them into a single query to minimize the overhead of JSON parsing and extraction.
5. Normalize your data: If you frequently need to extract specific JSON values, consider normalizing your data by storing the extracted values as separate columns in your table. This can simplify querying and improve performance, especially for complex JSON structures.
6. Consider using a JSON-aware database: If your application heavily relies on JSON data and its extraction, you might benefit from using a JSON-aware database like MongoDB or CouchDB, which natively support JSON documents and provide more efficient querying capabilities.

Remember to benchmark and test the different optimization strategies with your specific data and workload to determine which approach works best for your use case.