SQL Server Execution Plans - Part 1

I nearly always use execution plans as the starting point for SQL query performance troubleshooting. In this multi-part series, I plan to review the basics of execution plans and how you can use them to improve the performance of your own queries.

Check out the full post for example queries and screenshots:

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[mooremike]

This will be a very valuable series for my team at work. Thanks!

[akensturgeon]

Thanks Bert, this is exactly what I was hoping you'd teach.

[rellik]

Thanks Bert! First video is very good ! Lest start the second one !

[mehdizeynalov]

Excellent video and explanation - thanks very much for friendly tone as well, very easy to follow

[zanonilabuschagne]

Well done, Bert!!! Thanks for this one - have told my team to go watch. Getting the basics right always helps!!

BUT, multiple camera angles??? wow, you're getting professional now :)

Can't wait for part 2 - thanks, and appreciated, as always

[abrahamheredia]

Just waking up! First thing yo do see this video thanks foto sharing tour knowledge keep up.

[sumitsaxena]

Amazing video Learning many new things

[stefanotorelli]

You know what? There is a lot of people thinking about execution plans like something related to some ancient Guru on top the Himalaya... so they ignore it at every cost it would take...
Great work!

[coderanger]

I love this channel! Are you going to focus strictly on SQL Server in the future or do you plan on creating content for MySQL/Postgresql as well?

[prathameshkinareparth]

Thank You so much for thinking and taking time to start this awesome series which crucial part of SQL DBA daily routine. Eagerly waiting for all the next parts of this Good Luck!!!

[lancemartin]

Wanna play a drinking game you'll never survive? Take a drink every time he says the word, "actual".

[kapildevunath]

brilliant, thank you, Kapil - South Africa

[oresteszoupanos]

Nice vid, well PLANned and EXECUTEd ;-)

[matthewmeloney]

hey Bert (or anyone else that knows :)) - at 6:50 you talk about viewing the cach plans by looking at the 'DMV' called dm exec etc etc. What is a DMV in this context? Just trying to understand what those commands are... where do they come from? What is this 'DMV' that you refer to?

[davidwagner]

Thank you for the info, is it an issue if the execution plans are never reused? We have an EHR data base and the execution plans are showing 0 for reuse. Just wondering if that's normal.

[luisgomez]

I tried to use the showplan_all on/off but it won´t work. Do you have to import something into your sql server? or why is it that i cant use it?

[brennermusgrave]

Am I the only one who noticed the Polish eagle sticker on his laptop? Where do I get one?

[kopytko]

How come you have a Polish flag on your laptop?

[onequickthing]

Huh, I got kicked out of Fat Heads once.

[johnnynephrite]

"Sql Server is a declarative language"? You're confused kid. SQL is an ANSI standard language developed by IBM like 3 decades before you were even born. Sql Server is a RDBMS. That stands for Relational Database Management System. Another concept that came long before your time. And again, Microsoft *DID NOT INVENT IT.* Microsoft developed their RDBMS kinda late in the game, long after DB2, Ingres, Oracle and others were already mature platforms. Not saying its not a good product, it is. It uses Transact SQL as a language that includes not only standard SQL commands, but also many other commands that make working with SQL and administering a database easier and richer. Have a nice day kid.