8 Query Performance Books That Define Expert Mastery

The methods Benjamin Nevarez developed while deeply engaged in SQL Server internals provide a clear path beyond generic tuning advice. You’ll learn exactly how the query optimizer functions, how to diagnose cardinality estimation errors, and the nuances of plan caching and reuse, all critical to speeding up queries in Microsoft SQL Server 2022. Chapters cover advanced topics like in-memory OLTP and columnstore indexes, offering practical insights you can apply immediately. This book suits SQL developers, DBAs, and architects aiming to solve performance bottlenecks with a deep understanding rather than surface fixes.

Grant Fritchey brings over three decades of hands-on experience in IT and database administration to this detailed guide on SQL Server performance tuning. You’ll learn how to navigate the complexities of SQL Server 2022’s latest features, including Query Store, adaptive execution plans, and automated tuning on Azure, helping you troubleshoot and optimize queries effectively. The book dives deep into changes in cardinality estimation and query optimization engines that can subtly degrade performance, equipping you with the knowledge to identify and fix these issues. If you manage SQL Server environments or develop complex queries, this book sharpens your ability to diagnose performance bottlenecks and apply targeted solutions.

This personalized book explores the fundamentals and advanced concepts of query tuning, crafted to match your unique background and specific goals. It examines core principles such as execution plan analysis, indexing strategies, and query optimization techniques, while delving into performance troubleshooting tailored to your database environment. The tailored content focuses on your interests, guiding you through complex topics like adaptive query processing, wait statistics, and plan caching with clarity and depth. By synthesizing expert knowledge into a format suited to your experience level, this book reveals practical pathways to mastering query performance in a way that resonates with your needs and accelerates your learning journey.

When Grant Fritchey first explored the challenges of sluggish T-SQL queries, he realized the solution demanded more than quick fixes—it required a deep dive into performance design and monitoring. Drawing on his extensive 20-year background across technical support, development, and database administration, Fritchey guides you through using tools like Query Store and Extended Events to spot and defuse bottlenecks before they frustrate users. You'll gain practical skills in adaptive execution plans and automated tuning on Azure SQL Database, plus best practices for query and index design that endure through SQL Server upgrades. This book suits developers and DBAs ready to take control of query performance rather than chase after symptoms.

Markus Winand's decade-long expertise in database performance shaped this focused guide on SQL efficiency. You’ll explore how indexing, SQL functions, and query structure directly impact speed, with clear examples like multi-column indexes and optimized join operations. The book also candidly discusses the limitations of ORM tools such as Hibernate, offering you a realistic perspective often missing elsewhere. If you’re a developer aiming to deepen your understanding across major SQL platforms like Oracle and PostgreSQL, this book equips you with practical insights without drowning in vendor-specific jargon.

Itzik Ben-Gan, a long-standing SQL Server MVP and co-founder of SolidQ, brings unmatched expertise to this volume, honing in on the inner workings of T-SQL to elevate your query writing and tuning skills. You’ll explore topics from algorithmic complexity assessments to mastering set-based logic over procedural code, with chapters dedicated to optimizing bulk imports and crafting efficient BI queries. This book is tailored for experienced T-SQL users aiming to deepen their understanding of SQL Server’s architecture and squeeze out every ounce of performance. If you’re a developer, DBA, or data professional serious about refining your T-SQL capabilities, this work offers concrete techniques grounded in years of hands-on refinement.

This personalized book explores rapid query performance improvement through a tailored, step-by-step approach designed to match your background and specific goals. It delves into essential concepts such as execution plans, indexing nuances, and query tuning techniques, while focusing on actions that accelerate your ability to optimize queries efficiently. By addressing your unique interests and experience level, it bridges expert knowledge with practical learning needs, revealing how to identify bottlenecks and enhance speed within a focused timeframe. The tailored content ensures you engage deeply with relevant topics that translate into real-world performance gains, making your learning journey both effective and rewarding.

What happens when a seasoned MySQL expert with years in support and development distills query tuning into a daily routine? Jesper Wisborg Krogh, drawing on his extensive Oracle MySQL Support experience and deep understanding of the MySQL optimizer, lays out a systematic approach to identifying and improving slow queries that affect application performance and business outcomes. You’ll learn to leverage tools like EXPLAIN ANALYZE and Visual Explain for precise analysis, understand indexing strategies including histograms for skewed data, and navigate locking issues that impact throughput. This book suits database administrators and SQL developers ready to integrate performance tuning into their workflow, even if you’re new to this specialized area.

After decades working intimately with Teradata systems, Roland Wenzlofsky developed this guide to demystify the complexities of tuning Teradata Data Warehouses. You’ll learn how to optimize parallel processing, master data access paths, and interpret execution plans to transform sluggish queries into efficient operations. Chapters cover everything from architecture fundamentals to fine-tuning SQL performance, making it ideal for developers, administrators, and database designers seeking practical know-how. If you want to elevate your data warehouse performance with proven techniques distilled from extensive experience, this book offers a focused, experience-backed approach without unnecessary jargon.

Kevin Meade brings over three decades of hands-on experience with Oracle databases to demystify the art of SQL tuning. Instead of offering scattered tips, he presents a structured approach centered on cardinalities—key to understanding query performance. You’ll learn to identify the driving table, optimize join orders, and use detailed query diagrams and scripts that reveal execution plan inefficiencies. This methodical guidance is ideal if you want to master the mechanics behind query optimization rather than just applying superficial fixes.