The difference between Count and COUNT_BIG includes result range and indexed-view requirements. Their row-counting rules are the same.
SQL Server emergency? Email pinal@sqlauthority.com with URGENT in the subject line.
Logon Storms: Protecting SQL Server From Connection Floods
Diagnose SQL Server logon storms, control connection growth, test a limited logon trigger, and preserve administrator recovery access.
Searching the Error Log by Date and Text With xp_readerrorlog
Search the SQL Server error log by date and text, select archives, capture matching rows, and cycle logs without losing context.
Bitwise Puzzle – SQL in Sixty Seconds 160
Many did not believe in the real world and based on the request, I have made the recent video on the same topic of the bitwise puzzle.
rows_sampled: Checking How Much Data Your Statistics Saw
A fresh statistic can still come from a small sample. Compare rows with rows_sampled and see how a sample misjudges a rare value.
Change Join Type for a Query: HASH, LOOP and MERGE Hints
To change join type for a query, add one of three hints to its OPTION clause. This post runs one join with each hint on two filters and compares the join type and the logical reads. It shows that no join type is best in general, and what a join hint in the FROM clause does to the join order.
Line Endings: CHAR(13), CHAR(10) and Files From Other Systems
Why does a value that looks perfect fail a compare? Because of a line ending you cannot see. Five small demos make it visible.
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.

