An index scan is a database operation that reads every row in a table to find the data it needs. This can be a very slow operation, especially for large tables. There are a number of ways to avoid index scans, including:
Using indexes: Indexes are data structures that help databases find data quickly. By creating an index on the column that you are searching, you can avoid having to scan the entire table.
Using query hints: Query hints are special commands that you can add to your queries to tell the database how to execute them. You can use query hints to force the database to use an index, even if it would normally choose not to.
* Using covering indexes: Covering indexes are indexes that include all of the columns that you need in your query. This means that the database can get all of the data it needs from the index, without having to scan the table.