Book Image

Learn T-SQL Querying

By : Pedro Lopes, Pam Lahoud
Book Image

Learn T-SQL Querying

By: Pedro Lopes, Pam Lahoud

Overview of this book

Transact-SQL (T-SQL) is Microsoft's proprietary extension to the SQL language used with Microsoft SQL Server and Azure SQL Database. This book will be a usefu to learning the art of writing efficient T-SQL code in modern SQL Server versions as well as the Azure SQL Database. The book will get you started with query processing fundamentals to help you write powerful, performant T-SQL queries. You will then focus on query execution plans and leverage them for troubleshooting. In later chapters, you will explain how to identify various T-SQL patterns and anti-patterns. This will help you analyze execution plans to gain insights into current performance, and determine whether or not a query is scalable. You will also build diagnostic queries using dynamic management views (DMVs) and dynamic management functions (DMFs) to address various challenges in T-SQL execution. Next, you will work with the built-in tools of SQL Server to shorten the time taken to address query performance and scalability issues. In the concluding chapters, this will guide you through implementing various features, such as Extended Events, Query Store, and Query Tuning Assistant, using hands-on examples. By the end of the book, you will have developed the skills to determine query performance bottlenecks, avoid pitfalls, and discover the anti-patterns in use.
Table of Contents (18 chapters)
Free Chapter
1
Section 1: Query Processing Fundamentals
5
Section 2: Dos and Donts of T-SQL
10
Section 3: Assemble Your Query Troubleshooting Toolbox

Building blocks of a T-SQL statement

When writing a T-SQL statement, the following three actions are required:

  1. Express the intended operation, such as reading or changing data
  2. Provide a target or source list of affected tables
  3. Provide a condition that filters the affected records

The intended operation is determined by the presence of the following clauses:

  • The SELECT clause lists columns or expressions that will be displayed in the result set
  • The DELETE, INSERT, or UPDATE clauses state the target table or view for these logical operations

As for the affected tables and filters, they are determined by the following clauses:

  • The FROM clause lists the source tables, views and/or sub-queries that contain the data to be queried
  • The WHERE clause states one or more conditions that will serve to filter the result set to the desired rows

The preceding clauses determine which data...