What you'll learn

SQL Server query plans contain a wealth of information that can be used to diagnose performance problems, but at first glance they appear complicated and difficult to understand. With more than 30 detailed demos, this course shows you how to easily understand and interpret query plans so you can pinpoint performance problems. The course starts by explaining the various methods of capturing query plans for later analysis, and how to recognize the basic elements of query plans along with their CPU, I/O, and memory costs and requirements. It then moves on to explaining all the common query plan operators and when they will be present in a query plan, along with notes on potential problems to watch out for. The final module explains common patterns to look for in query plans that indicate a performance problem that should be investigated and fixed. This course is perfect for developers, DBAs, and anyone responsible for SQL Server performance, from complete beginners through to those with more experience who want a definitive guide to SQL Server query plans. The information in the course applies to all versions from SQL Server 2005 onwards.