How Do I Obtain a SQL Server Query Execution Plan?

How to get SQL Server query execution plan

Introduction:

Understanding the execution plan of a query or stored procedure is critical to optimizing database performance. In SQL Server, there are several ways to obtain an execution plan, each with its own advantages and limitations.

Method 1: Use SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS)

The most straightforward method is to enable the "Include actual execution plan" option in SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS). After running the query, an additional tab will appear in the results pane showing the execution plan. This method is quick and easy, but requires access to SSMS.

Method 2: Use SHOWPLAN option

To obtain the execution plan without SSMS, use the SHOWPLAN option. Enable the required options (for example, SET SHOWPLAN_XML ON) in a separate batch before executing the query. This will generate an additional result set containing the plan in the specified format.

Method 3: Use SQL Server Profiler

If you cannot run the query directly, you can use SQL Server Profiler tracing to capture the execution plan. Enable the "Showplan XML" event and run tracing during query execution. Extract the plan XML using the "Extract Event Data..." function.

Method 4: Check the query cache

If direct execution and analysis is not feasible, you can check the SQL query plan cache for an estimated execution plan. Query a SQL Server dynamic management view (DMV), such as sys.dm_exec_cached_plans, to extract the query plan.

Important Tips:

• Getting the execution plan should be done in the database where the performance problem is occurring.
• Estimated execution plans are less useful than actual execution plans because they do not provide detailed statistics.
• The actual execution plan contains information about the actual behavior of the query during execution, which is extremely valuable for troubleshooting performance issues.

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