How to explain a SQL Server index in an interview in about a minute, then prove every word with one table. On SQL Server 2025, the same query read 5,737 pages with no index, 133 with a plain index and 3 with a covering index. Three extra indexes doubled the log of 20,000 inserts.
SQL Server emergency? Email pinal@sqlauthority.com with URGENT in the subject line.
Restoring One Table: Restore a Copy and Move the Rows Back
Learn restoring one table by restoring a separate database copy, choosing a recovery point, and safely moving reviewed rows back.
Vertical Partitioning: Moving Rarely Used Columns Off a Hot Table
Moving rarely used columns to a side table can cut reads, or change nothing. Here is how to measure it and what it costs your writes.
Casting JSON Arrays to the vector Type for Embeddings
A cast checks the count of numbers, not the model they came from. Here is a simple staging pattern that loads good rows and reports the rest.
NT SERVICE Accounts in sysadmin: What They Are For
A security scan wants those service logins gone. Here is how to see what each one is for before you click Delete.
MySQL – Introduction to User Defined Variables
MySQL user defined variables let you store a value and use it later in your query, with no data type to declare. Here is how to set and read them.
SQL SERVER – Merge Two Columns into a Single Column
A reader wanted to merge two columns into a single column that lists all values from both. Here is the simple query I suggested for the task.
SQL Server slow? Let's fix it together in about four hours.
In my Comprehensive Database Performance Health Check, you share your screen, I guide you, and we fix your biggest performance troublemakers. No passwords. No remote access.
You keep every script, and the know-how to fix it yourself next time.
Want your whole team to learn it?
My Practical Workshop has no PowerPoint, just live demos. My AI Enablement Workshop shows your team where AI saves hours, and where it quietly costs them.
Over 400 customers have worked with me this way, and not one shared a password. See all consulting options.
Who We Are
Pinal Dave is an SQL Server Performance Tuning Expert and independent consultant with over 24 years of hands-on experience. He holds a Masters of Science degree and numerous database certifications.
Pinal has authored 19 books and 125 Pluralsight courses. To freely share his knowledge and help others build their expertise, Pinal has also written more than 5,800 database tech articles on his blog at https://blog.sqlauthority.com.
Pinal is also a CrossFit Level 1 Trainer (CF-L1) and CrossFit Level 2 Trainer (CF-L2).
Nupur Dave is a social media enthusiast and an independent consultant. She primarily focuses on the database domain, helping clients build short and long-term multi-channel campaigns to drive leads for their sales pipeline.
Shaivi Pinalkumar Dave is a book author and a women’s artistic gymnast.

