SQL Query Optimization: Benefits and Expert Tips
Poorly written queries can consume too many system resources, take too long to execute, result in errors, and potentially cause loss of service for users.
Query optimization helps you to improve overall system performance and help users get results faster. At Apriorit, we figured out three steps to improve SQL query performance.
Why optimize SQL queries?
Each query in your database can be executed through different algorithms and can be written in different forms and structures. Query optimization reduces system resource consumption and allows the system to handle more queries simultaneously. Thus, you can improve overall system performance and help users get results faster.
Poorly written queries:
- Сan consume too many system resources
- Take too long to execute
- Contain errors
- Сause loss of service for users
SQL server query optimization tips
Step 1. Search for critical parts with SQL Server Profiler
SQL Server Profiler helps you to understand which queries require optimization by tracing queries received by the server, seeing the text of the queries, and checking their execution times.
Here’s how to do it:
- Run the SQL Server Profiler from the SQL Server Management Studio
- Set filters to detect the slowest queries
- Take a look at the whole picture of your database queries
- Add problematic queries to the execution plan
Step 2. Analyze query execution using execution plans
An execution plan provides you with information on how a query will be executed, showing you all actions that constitute this query.
SQL Server Management Studio can display three types of execution plans:
A graphical execution plan contains more useful information to optimize SQL queries than does a text plan. It provides us with additional information on every object of the tree structure, which can be used in further SQL optimization.
Step 3. Optimize queries
To optimize SQL queries successfully, you need to learn the rules of working with SQL Server Management Studio tools and understand the nuances of working with main database objects.
Check the full article in our blog to explore how to optimize SQL queries by analyzing database query execution time: https://bit.ly/3VYzCqf
