Understanding Execution Plans

Learn to read and interpret graphical and XML execution plans. Discover how the optimizer makes decisions about indexing, joins, and access methods.

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Indexing Strategies

Explore the different types of indexes and how they impact query performance. Learn best practices for creating and maintaining effective indexes.

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Statistics and Cardinality Estimation

Understand the role of statistics in cardinality estimation. Learn how outdated or missing statistics can lead to suboptimal execution plans.

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Query Hints and Directives

Discover how to use query hints to influence the optimizer's decisions when necessary. Understand the potential trade-offs and when to apply them.

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Common Performance Bottlenecks

Identify and resolve common issues that slow down your SQL Server queries, such as parameter sniffing, non-SARGable predicates, and blocking.

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Advanced Tuning Techniques

Dive deeper into advanced topics like columnstore indexes, memory-optimized tables, and leveraging the Query Store for performance analysis.

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