WAITFOR DELAY pauses a SQL Server batch for a fixed amount of time. This episode shows the command, and the tests here measure how long it really waits, what it does to locks and workers, and where it stops being the right tool.
INNER JOIN vs JOIN in SQL Server: Is There Any Difference?
INNER JOIN vs JOIN is a question about one optional keyword. The tests here show identical results, identical query and plan hashes, the one place where INNER is required, and the LEFT JOIN trap that really does change the rows.
ZSTD Backup Compression in SQL Server 2025
Test ZSTD backup compression in SQL Server 2025, compare recorded sizes and algorithms, and check restores before changing defaults.
Checking Which Connections Use TDS 8.0 and Strict Encryption
TRUE in encrypt_option does not mean strict mode. Here is how to read the protocol value on your server and what to test before you enforce anything.
Log Shipping to a Readable Standby: Restores vs Report Users
Configure a readable standby for log shipping, balance restore jobs with report users, and measure copy and restore delay.
Temp Table Statistics: Why a #Table Plan Goes Stale
Inspect temp table statistics across procedure calls, compare estimates with loaded rows, and test targeted refresh and recompile fixes.
DROP IF EXISTS and CREATE OR ALTER for Iterative Deployments
Run your deployment script twice and see what survives. A short demo shows why CREATE OR ALTER keeps permissions and drop and create does not.