随着单机内存容量的持续上升，内存数据库技术逐渐取代传统磁盘数据库为数据管理提供更快速的支持.本文分析了设计内存索引结构所需要考虑的基本要素；对目前的内存索引结构进行了分类总结，并分析各结构的优缺点；针对当前应用发展趋势，指出内存索引未来发展的机遇与挑战；最后介绍了我们正在研发的分布式集群感知内存数据库（CLAIMS）中的内存索引结构.

As main memory capacities grows larger and larger, the memory era has arrived and inmemory databases have taken the place of traditional diskbased databases to provide efficient data management. In this paper, we analyzed the fundamental elements in inmemory index designing: summarized and evaluated the existing index structures, pointing out the future opportunities and challenges based on the development trend of current applications. Finally, we introduced our ongoing distributed inmemory index studies on the Cluster Aware InMemory System (CLAIMS).