Optimizing MySQL Database Queries for Millions of Records in Laravel

Eloquent is arguably one of the most expressive ORMs in the modern web ecosystem, but without careful query tuning, it is easy to inadvertently execute hundreds of redundant queries.

1. Always Eager-Load Relationships

Use with() or loadMissing() rather than accessing related model properties in loops.

2. Prefer Cursor Pagination on Massive Datasets

Standard offset pagination forces the database engine to scan and discard millions of preceding rows (e.g. OFFSET 500000). In contrast, cursor pagination relies on indexed IDs (WHERE id > 500000 LIMIT 15), delivering constant O(1) retrieval speed.