Do attribute indexes improve layer symbology performance?

Question

ArcGIS Desktop & Server 10.7.1; Oracle 18c:
For feature classes that are symbolized by a values in a single field (multiple symbols):
Would a layer draw faster in the map if its symbology field had an attribute index?
I know attribute indexes improve performance for things like joins and the WHERE clause. But I’m not sure if it would apply to symbology as well (maybe the symbology mechanism ‘searches’ for values — just like the WHERE clause does, in which case, an index might help).
(It’s a difficult thing to test, since ArcGIS is pretty fast no matter what I do. But in my future PROD environment, I’ll have hundreds of thousands of records in feature classes. So I’d like to design them properly now in DEV, if I can.)

PolyGeo · Answer

I would not expect an attribute index to improve your drawing speed, unless joins are involved - see 10003: Layer doesn't have an attribute index on fields used for a join (with my bolding):

Using join fields with an index results in better drawing and query performance.

However, if you want to be more certain then you should be able to generate a few million polygons using Create Fishnet, populate a field to symbolize on, time a few runs of symbolizing it without an attribute index, then apply an attribute index and time a few runs with that attribute index.

Do attribute indexes improve layer symbology performance?

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