One counter row means every visitor waits in line. See how buckets spread the locks, and why rows on one page can still crowd each other.
UPDLOCK and READPAST for Queue Tables
UPDLOCK and READPAST let SQL Server queue workers claim different rows safely when transactions, retries, and completion rules are designed.
Optimized Locking in SQL Server 2025: What Changes for Blocking
Enable optimized locking in SQL Server 2025 with ADR and RCSI, then compare lock counts and blocking while checking LAQ limits.
SQL SERVER – Difference Between NOLOCK and NOWAIT Hints
Should you use NOLOCK when NOWAIT errors out on a lock? Here is the difference between NOLOCK and NOWAIT, and why neither guarantees a valid answer.
SQL SERVER – Basic Explanation of SET LOCK_TIMEOUT – How to Not Wait on Locked Query
SET LOCK_TIMEOUT works at the connection level, like the NOWAIT hint does for a query. I show how setting it to 0 stops a query from waiting on a lock.
SQL SERVER – Basic Explanation of Query Hint NOWAIT – How to Not Wait on Locked Query
Everybody knows NOLOCK, but not everyone knows NOWAIT. A question at a Bangalore User Group session led me to explain how NOWAIT skips waiting on a lock.
sys.dm_os_waiting_tasks: Who Is Waiting Right Now and Why
sys.dm_os_waiting_tasks shows every task that waits right now, what it waits for and who is in the way. This post builds a three-session blocking chain on SQL Server 2025, reads the view, finds the head of the chain and names the locked table.