According to one aspect, methods and systems are provided for creating partial indexes in a distributed database environment. The database includes an index engine configured to receive at least one index field, a criteria field, and a criteria condition, wherein the criteria field is not included in the at least one index field; and generate an index comprising the at least one index field from at least one record of the plurality of records and a pointer to the at least one record of the plurality of records, wherein the criteria field of the at least one record of the plurality of records satisfies the criteria condition. The database further includes a query engine configured to receive a search query containing the at least one index field; and search the index for the at least one index field.