SQL Performance Tuning- Tips for Tuning SQL Server Like a Pro

Whether you’re a developer or DBA (Database Administrator) or system admin, once in a while you will surely get stuck with the long-running queries in the SQL server. For this, you need to execute SQL performance tuning.

SQL performance tuning could be an incredibly daunting task, especially when you are indulged with large-scale data. It is so because, with large-scale data, even the most minor change made by you can create a dramatic impact on the performance which could be both positive and negative.

If you believe the theory, performance tuning is supposed to be done by the DBA. However, the fact says that they don’t have much time to scrutinize every single change made to the stored procedure.

But, if you think it practically, it would be done by the developer. Regardless of who you are, if you want to performance tune your SQL server, then you should follow the tips provided in this blog.

6 Essential Tips for SQL Performance Tuning

SQL performance tuning is the process of ensuring queries of a relational database or SQL statements issued by an application run as fast as possible.  It’s not a single technique or tool but a set of practices that uses a wide array of tools, techniques, and processes.

Let us discover a few tips that are helpful in the performance tuning of the SQL server. They are as follows:

1. Before you begin, define a clear set of business requirements

Before you actually begin performance tuning in SQL oracle server, you must do the right things from square one. So, you must ensure the following:

• You have clearly identified the relevant stakeholders. Besides, while querying production databases, it’s crucial to involve the DBA.

• Identify your requirements and ensure they are met by answering five sets of questions that are Why? Who? What? When? Where?

• Determine whether identified requirements are specific and to the point because it’s too risky to tax the database with ambiguous requirements.

• Do focus on business outcomes and ensure the query has a unique and definite purpose.

2. Use SELECT instead of SELECT*

SELECT* which is read as select all should be used for smaller tables where you have a limited number of fields and rows. However, if you use it for longer tables, it will query all the data from them and will present a list. It will become difficult for you to shorthand what you want.

Therefore, instead of using SELECT*, you should use SELECT to define the fields and to instruct the database to query only the required information to meet the end-goals. It’s one of the most efficient ways of querying since it pulls only the required data and restricts your database from getting burdened.

3. Create Indexes Properly Based on Queries

Indexes are data structures that speed up data retrieval operations on a database table. Creating useful indexes is a crucial step in SQL query performance tuning. Therefore, it’s essential to understand the type of queries and the frequency with which they run before efficient indexes are created. You should try to index major searching and ordering columns. However, indexing may limit the database performance if you upload it constantly with UPDATE, INSERT, and DELETE.

4. Generate an Actual Execution Plan

It’s extremely crucial to generate an actual execution plan in order to diagnose slow queries. You can do this by making use of SQL Server Management Studio. Typically, the actual execution plans are generated after you run the queries. For generating this, you need to click on “Database Engine Query”, that can be found on the SQL Server Management Studio Toolbar. Then, enter the query and on the Query menu, click on “Include Actual Execution Plan”.

Now, you can run the query by clicking on the “Execute” toolbar button or by pressing F5. Once you have done this, the execution plan will be displayed in the results pane by the SQL Server Management Studio under the “Execution Pane” tab.

5. Avoid Correlated SQL Subqueries

Correlated SQL subqueries are those that run row-by-row; once for each row returned by the outer query which in turn, minimizes SQL query performance. Also, it uses values from the parent query. Most of the new SQL developers are often found to structure their queries with these correlated SQL queries as it’s an easy route.

6. Wisely Use Temporary Tables

Undoubtedly, it is great to use temporary tables, but they exponentially increase the complexity of a query. Therefore, you must avoid using temp tables when you can write your code simple. However, you can use them as intermediaries when you have to deal with a stored procedure that is difficult to be handled with a single query. Here, temp tables can put your problem to an end.

In a Nutshell

SQL performance tuning is crucial to keep your database healthy. However, it’s not easier to accomplish the task. The performance of the SQL queries is entirely dependent on several factors such as the database model you use, the kind of data that you require fetching, and more.

Therefore, if you are searching for a trusted company that focuses on rendering solutions to SQL and database performance tuning, you can browse the brilliant offerings of Tosska Technologies Limited. We are one of the very companies that use artificial intelligence technology to solve various database performance problems.