How can an e-commerce company improve the performance of its RDS MySQL database that is slowing down due to high read load from other applications?

Using a read replica for the RDS MySQL database is an effective solution to improve performance under high read loads. A read replica allows you to offload read queries from the primary database instance to one or more replicas, distributing the load and enhancing overall read throughput. This means that while the primary database handles write operations, the read replicas can process incoming read requests, reducing contention on the primary instance and leading to faster response times for users.

Additionally, read replicas can be placed in different geographical locations to further optimize read performance by serving users from the closest location, thus reducing latency. The replication of data from the primary database to the replicas happens asynchronously, which minimizes the impact on the primary database's performance while still providing up-to-date data.

This method is particularly effective for e-commerce applications where read operations (like fetching product details, inventory levels, and user information) can significantly increase under high traffic conditions. By strategically utilizing read replicas, the company can maintain a responsive application and enhance the user experience without needing to make more resource-intensive modifications, such as scaling the database instance size or changing the entire database management system.