Conditions in a WHERE clause don’t define a short-circuit evaluation sequence. I inspect actual behavior instead of relying on text order.
SQL Server emergency? Email pinal@sqlauthority.com with URGENT in the subject line.
SQL SERVER – PIVOT and UNPIVOT Table Examples
If you PIVOT a table and then UNPIVOT it, do you get the original back? Not always. My PIVOT and UNPIVOT table examples show why aggregation loses data.
Three Scripts for a First Look at Any Server
A first look at any server needs three read-only T-SQL checks: configuration, databases and backups, and current activity.
Compound Assignment Operators in T-SQL with Simple Examples
Compound Assignment Operators let T-SQL do a calculation and an assignment in one step, so SET @Stock -= 2 replaces SET @Stock = @Stock – 2. This post tests all eight operators on SQL Server 2025 with a small garden center inventory. It also shows integer division, NULL, string and flag examples, and where the shorthand does not help.
SQL SERVER – Create a Comma Delimited List Using SELECT Clause From Table Column
I received following question in email : How to create a comma delimited list using SELECT clause from table column?
SQL SERVER – Example of DISTINCT in Aggregate Functions
Does DISTINCT in Aggregate Functions make a difference? Yes. A quick AdventureWorks example compares SUM(DISTINCT ReorderPoint) with a plain SUM.
SQL SERVER – Order Of Column In Index
Adding more columns does not make an index better. The order of column in index matters most, since an index is used only when its first column is in the query.
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.

