Book Image

Learn T-SQL Querying - Second Edition

By : Pedro Lopes, Pam Lahoud
Book Image

Learn T-SQL Querying - Second Edition

By: Pedro Lopes, Pam Lahoud

Overview of this book

Data professionals seeking to excel in Transact-SQL (T-SQL) for Microsoft SQL Server and Azure SQL Database often lack comprehensive resources. This updated second edition of Learn T-SQL Querying focuses on indexing queries and crafting elegant T-SQL code, catering to all data professionals seeking mastery in modern SQL Server versions and Azure SQL Database. Starting with query processing fundamentals, this book lays a solid foundation for writing performant T-SQL queries. You’ll explore the mechanics of the Query Optimizer and Query Execution Plans, learning how to analyze execution plans for insights into current performance and scalability. Through dynamic management views (DMVs) and dynamic management functions (DMFs), you’ll build diagnostic queries. This book thoroughly covers indexing for T-SQL performance and provides insights into SQL Server’s built-in tools for expedited resolution of query performance and scalability issues. Further, hands-on examples will guide you through implementing features such as avoiding UDF pitfalls, understanding predicate SARGability, Query Store, and Query Tuning Assistant. By the end of this book, you‘ll have developed the ability to identify query performance bottlenecks, recognize anti-patterns, and skillfully avoid such pitfalls.
Table of Contents (18 chapters)
1
Part 1: Query Processing Fundamentals
4
Part 2: Dos and Don’ts of T-SQL
9
Part 3: Assembling Our Query Troubleshooting Toolbox

Managing Optimizer Changes

In this chapter, we will discuss how users can manage Query Optimizer changes throughout versions of the SQL Database Engine. We will cover a client-side feature in SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) – the Query Tuning Assistant (QTA) – and a new feature for the SQL Server 2022 release – CE Feedback. Both features aim at addressing some of the most common causes of cardinality estimation (CE)-related performance regressions that may affect our T-SQL queries after an upgrade from an older version of SQL Server to a newer version, namely SQL Server 2016 and above.

At the time of writing, SQL Server 2014 is months away from completing its 10-year life cycle and reaching end of support. Also, SQL Server 2016 and SQL Server 2017 no longer have mainstream support. This can raise concerns for all those still running applications supported by these legacy SQL Server versions.

However, modernizing the database platform (a synonym for upgrading...