Indexes get fragmented as data grows. I asked my friend Tim Radney what he does then, and here are his index fragmentation next steps from the field.
Indexing JSON Properties With Computed Columns
Improve indexing JSON properties with typed computed columns, matching paths, required SET options, and plan checks on your workload.
Nested Loops Join: When It Is the Right Choice
Loops in a plan are not always the villain. Count the inner executions and the reads before you force another join type.
SQL SERVER – Redundant Indexes Good or Bad – Final Wrap – Part 7
Are redundant indexes good or bad? This final wrap of my seven part series recaps every part and its demo, so start here if you missed any.
Clustered Key Choice for Date Range Queries: Date or Identity
Should you cluster on OrderDate? Measure one month of orders on three designs and see what each one costs in reads before you rebuild a table.
Why the Same Query Is Fast Then Suddenly Slow
Recognize parameter sniffing by comparing compiled values, data distribution, and reused plans, then test a remedy with its tradeoffs.
SELECT * Cost: Why Wide Result Sets Slow Exports
The query starts fast but the export crawls. A small demo shows how much a wide text column adds, and what to measure on your own server.