Why should query hints be a last resort?

Problem Statement

Explanation

Hints force a specific join, index, or plan shape. They may help in a pinch, but as data grows or distributions change, a forced plan can degrade. Fix root causes first: SARGability, statistics, and indexing. Use hints sparingly and document why.

Code Solution

SolutionRead Only

-- Example (vendor-specific)
SELECT /*+ INDEX(o idx_orders_status) */ * FROM orders o WHERE status='PAID';

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This question appears in the following practice sets:

Query Plans & Performance Tuning

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Why should query hints be a last resort?

Problem Statement

Explanation

Code Solution

Practice Sets

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Master Interviews Anywhere, Anytime

Why should query hints be a last resort?

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