by Markus Winand.

Execution Plans


Before the database can execute an SQL statement, the optimizer has to create an execution plan for it. The database then executes this plan in a step-by-step manner. In this respect, the optimizer is very similar to a compiler because it translates the source code (SQL statement) into an executable program (execution plan).

The execution plan is the first place to look when searching for the cause of slow statements. The following sections explain how to retrieve and read an execution plan to optimize performance in various databases.

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Markus Winand provides insights into SQL and shows how different systems support it at modern-sql.com. Previously he made use-the-index-luke.com, which is still actively maintained. Markus can be hired as trainer, speaker and consultant via winand.at.

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