ABORT_QUERY_EXECUTION is a SQL Server 2025 Query Store hint that makes one known bad query fail before it uses any CPU. This post sets the hint, shows the exact error the caller gets, lists and clears the hint, and covers the traps: exact text, SET options and queries already running.
Estimated Plan With a Temp Table: Why It Guesses One Row
An estimated plan for code that fills a temp table guesses one row for every read of that table. This post compares the estimated plan and the actual plan on SQL Server 2025, shows where the numbers split, and explains when to trust each one.
Sequence Project and Segment: How Window Functions Show Up in a Plan
A window function leaves Segment and Sequence Project operators in a query plan, and a Sort in front of them. This post tests ROW_NUMBER and a running total on SQL Server 2025, shows the batch mode Window Aggregate that replaces them, and removes the Sort with an index.
The Filter Operator: When SQL Server Reads Everything and Keeps a Few Rows
The Filter operator keeps a few rows after the plan has read and sorted many more. This post shows one on SQL Server 2025 with the actual plan and the logical reads, then rewrites the query so it seeks instead and reads about a fifth as many pages.
UTF-8 Collations in SQL Server 2019: When They Save Space
Compare UTF-8 collations with NVARCHAR storage for English, European, and Asian text before converting indexes or clients.
Capture Query Plans With Extended Events: A Safe, Scoped Session
To capture query plans without guessing, use an Extended Events session scoped to one database and a duration threshold. This post builds one on SQL Server 2025, reads the captured actual plan, and measures why plan capture must be switched on briefly and then off.
How to Use GOTO command in SQL Server? – Interview Question of the Week #249
Question: How to Use GOTO command in SQL Server?
Answer: Let us see a simple example of how GOTO works in SQL Server in this blog post.
RETURN Statement in a Stored Procedure: Exit Early
The RETURN statement ends a stored procedure at once and hands back one integer status code. This post builds a small demo, shows how to read the code, stops a procedure after a chosen step, and tests what RETURN does with NULL, text, open transactions and errors.
How to Become a Good Conference Speaker: Lessons From 18 Conferences
How to become a good conference speaker, from a year of 18 international conferences in 14 countries. Know which room you are in, treat demos like production, protect your health, say no with a ranking list, and speak for the love of it, not for business.
Nonclustered Columnstore Index on a Temp Table in SQL Server
A nonclustered columnstore index works on a temp table but not on a table variable. This post loads a temp table, builds the index, and measures the same aggregate query before and after. It also shows the error a table variable raises and when the build cost pays off.