Generate random numbers per row with NEWID or CRYPT_GEN_RANDOM, compare seeded RAND, inspect bucket spread, and pick a row without a sort.
SQL SERVER – Difference Between NOLOCK and NOWAIT Hints
Should you use NOLOCK when NOWAIT errors out on a lock? Here is the difference between NOLOCK and NOWAIT, and why neither guarantees a valid answer.
SQL SERVER – Significance of Table Input Parameter to Stored Procedure
Pass a whole table into a stored procedure instead of forming and parsing XML. Here is why a table input parameter to stored procedure saves round trips.
Autocomplete and Code Formatting in SSMS: What Works Today
Autocomplete and code formatting save time and prevent mistakes when they are set up well. This post covers the IntelliSense features in SSMS, the reasons they stop working, a simple formatting style, and a tested look at what formatting changes in the plan cache.
JSON_ARRAYAGG and JSON_OBJECTAGG: Building JSON From Rows in SQL Server 2025
Build customer arrays with JSON_ARRAYAGG and settings objects with JSON_OBJECTAGG in SQL Server 2025, with explicit order and null rules.
SQL SERVER – Basic Explanation of SET LOCK_TIMEOUT – How to Not Wait on Locked Query
SET LOCK_TIMEOUT works at the connection level, like the NOWAIT hint does for a query. I show how setting it to 0 stops a query from waiting on a lock.
SQL Server Instance or Database: What Is the Difference?
A SQL Server instance is the engine and a database is one set of data inside it. What each level owns, why a login and a user are different objects, and which line to draw when you separate customers or teams.