Should you rely on optimizer hints to tune queries? When are they appropriate?

Problem Statement

Explanation

Hints can force join orders or algorithms, but they lock the plan to today’s data shape. Over time, they may hide underlying issues like missing indexes or bad statistics and can age poorly. Use hints as a last resort for stable, critical queries after fixing schema and statistics. Document why the hint exists and review it when data distributions change.

Code Solution

SolutionRead Only

-- Example (syntax varies)
SELECT /*+ USE_HASH(o c) LEADING(o c) */ ...

Practice Sets

This question appears in the following practice sets:

Query Optimization & Execution Plans

Next Question

Master Interviews
Anywhere, Anytime

Should you rely on optimizer hints to tune queries? When are they appropriate?

Problem Statement

Explanation

Code Solution

Practice Sets

Related Questions

Which SQL statement retrieves all columns and rows from a table named employees?

Which clause filters rows before aggregation and affects which rows are grouped?

What is the default sort order when ORDER BY is used without ASC or DESC?

Which construct is commonly used to paginate results in SQL engines like Postgres and MySQL?

Which predicate correctly checks for missing values in standard SQL?

More from SQL & Databases

Master Interviews Anywhere, Anytime

Should you rely on optimizer hints to tune queries? When are they appropriate?

Problem Statement

Explanation

Code Solution

Practice Sets

Related Questions

Which SQL statement retrieves all columns and rows from a table named employees?

Which clause filters rows before aggregation and affects which rows are grouped?

What is the default sort order when ORDER BY is used without ASC or DESC?

Which construct is commonly used to paginate results in SQL engines like Postgres and MySQL?

Which predicate correctly checks for missing values in standard SQL?

More from SQL & Databases

Master Interviews
Anywhere, Anytime