A function was causing CPU spikes. How many times was that function called, and at what cost? The SQL Server 2016 DMV dm_exec_function_stats shows it.
What is Memory Grants Pending in SQL Server? – Interview Question of the Week #103
What is Memory Grants Pending in SQL Server? A short interview-style answer: what the counter shows, what value you want to see and why it matters.
How to Use OR Condition in CASE WHEN Statement? – Interview Question of the Week #102
How do you use an OR condition in a CASE WHEN statement? A tricky interview question, and how to write it so the logic works.
Special Icon on System-Versioned Table in SQL Server 2016 – Interview Question of the Week #101
Expanding tables in WideWorldImporters in SSMS 2016, you see an icon like a watch. It marks a System-Versioned table, also known as a temporal table.
DMV to Replace DBCC INPUTBUFFER Command – Interview Question of the Week #100
Is there a DMV to replace the DBCC INPUTBUFFER command? An interview question that caught me off guard, answered with sys.dm_exec_input_buffer.
How to Downgrade Database from SQL Server 2014 to SQL Server 2012 – Interview Question of the Week #099
Can you downgrade a database from SQL Server 2014 to SQL Server 2012? Not directly, but there is one workaround: script the database with data and run it.
How to Find Longest Running Query With Execution Plan – Interview Question of the Week #098
How do you find the longest running query with execution plan in SQL Server? Here is a quick DMV query that returns the top 10 along with their plans.