Learn how a binary collation changes SQL Server sorting, exact string comparisons, index access, and column metadata checks.
Indexed Computed Columns: Speeding Up Code You Cannot Change
Use indexed computed columns to help fixed vendor queries on UPPER or CAST, while checking determinism and required SET options.
Wide Update Plans: What Every Extra Index Costs a Write
Inspect wide update plans, compare index-maintenance work with narrow updates, and read per-index counters without misreading STATISTICS IO.
Recent Rows Only: A Filtered Index for the Data Everyone Reads
A filtered index for recent rows is small and fast, but its date never moves by itself. Here is how to build it, test it and keep it fresh.
Price in Effect on a Date: Querying a Price History Table
Query a price history table for the price effective on each order date, enforce unique starts, and compare APPLY lookups with range joins.
Hypothetical Indexes in SQL Server: Find and Drop Them All
Hypothetical indexes are leftovers from the Database Engine Tuning Advisor. They hold a name and statistics but no data. This post lists them, shows they cannot serve a query, and drops them in two steps: a list you read first, and a drop second.
Eager Index Spool: When the Plan Builds Its Own Index
Investigate an eager index spool, read seek keys and output, and compare a supporting index with the cost of rebuilding temporary storage.