Optimizing SQL Query

Performance: A Comprehensive
Guide
Discover the secrets to SQL query optimization and supercharge your
database’s performance.

Taran Kaur · Follow

Published in Women in Technology · 10 min read · Mar 7, 2024

264 1

Key Takeaways:
Analyze Execution Plans

Use Indexes E ectively

Optimize Data Retrieval

Re ne JOIN Operations

Use LIMIT and OFFSET

Avoid SELECT DISTINCT

Limit Use of Subqueries

Choose EXISTS Over IN

Implement E cient Pagination

Minimize OR Conditions

Avoid Unnecessary Calculations

Regular Review and Re nement

Understand Data and Requirements

Optimize Use of Temporary Tables

 SQL query optimization

In the world of managing databases, making SQL queries run e ciently is

incredibly important. By optimizing these queries, we can cut down on how
long they take to execute, make apps run smoother, and in the end, leave
users happier. This article explores di erent ways and tips to make SQL
queries perform better.

Indexing
One key technique for speeding up queries is indexing. Essentially, indexing
helps speed up the process of nding and accessing data in a database. It’s
like a quick reference guide that allows for faster searches. But it’s
important to use indexing wisely because while it can make data retrieval
faster, it also comes with extra work, especially when data changes o en.

Using indexing smartly can signi cantly boost the speed of queries, as it
helps the database system to nd and fetch data much quicker.

Example:

CREATE INDEX idx_customer_name ON customers(name);

This creates an index on the name column of the customers table, speeding
up queries searching by customer name.

Use EXISTS Instead of IN

When checking if a value is part of a smaller group, using EXISTS is usually
faster than IN. This is because EXISTS lets the database stop looking the
moment it nds a matching record, while IN may require going through the
whole dataset to gather the smaller group for comparison.

In simpler terms, EXISTS speeds things up by ending the search as soon as

it nds what it’s looking for.

Example:

SELECT * FROM orders o WHERE EXISTS (SELECT 1 FROM customers c WHERE c.id = o.c
ustomer_id AND c.active = TRUE);

This query retrieves orders only for active customers, using EXISTS for
e cient existence checking.
Use Appropriate Datatype
The selection of data types greatly a ects the e ciency of SQL queries.
Opting for the most appropriate data type for each column helps to optimize
data storage, speed up comparisons, and eliminate needless data
conversions.

By picking the correct data type, you can reduce storage needs and enhance
the performance of queries.

Example:

For a column storing dates, use the DATE datatype instead of VARCHAR .

ALTER TABLE events MODIFY column event_date DATE;

Use LIMIT and OFFSET

When an application needs to organize data into pages, using the LIMIT and
OFFSET commands can improve its performance. These commands help by
only pulling a speci c chunk of records at a time, which is especially useful
for speeding up the loading of big datasets.

In short, LIMIT and OFFSET help with data pagination by only loading a
select portion of records, making things run smoother

Example:

SELECT * FROM products ORDER BY name LIMIT 10 OFFSET 20;

This retrieves 10 products, skipping the rst 20, useful for displaying the
third page of a paginated list.

Avoid SELECT DISTINCT

Applying SELECT DISTINCT in your queries can slow things down
signi cantly, especially when working with large amounts of data. This is
because the database has to si through the data to remove any duplicates.
A smarter approach is to modify your queries or use indexing to ensure data
is unique right from the get-go, avoiding reliance on SELECT DISTINCT.

In essence, SELECT DISTINCT can be quite demanding on resources. It’s

smarter to cra your queries in such a manner that they naturally prevent
duplicates without needing to resort to SELECT DISTINCT.

Example:

Instead of using SELECT DISTINCT , ensure your joins do not produce

duplicate rows.
 SELECT name FROM customers JOIN orders ON customers.id = orders.customer_id WHE
RE orders.status = 'Completed';

Avoid Subqueries
Subqueries provide a versatile method for organizing your queries, but they
might slow things down. Whenever possible, it’s better to use joins or
temporary tables instead, as this can make your queries run faster.

Switching from subqueries to joins or temporary tables is a good strategy to

boost performance.

Example:

Instead of a subquery:

SELECT * FROM employees WHERE department_id IN (SELECT id FROM departments WHERE

name = 'Sales');

Use a join:

SELECT e.* FROM employees e JOIN departments d ON e.department_id = d.id WHERE

d.name = 'Sales';

Optimize Database Design

Having a well-organized database design is crucial for fast query

performance. This means using normalization to get rid of unnecessary data
repetition, wisely applying denormalization to avoid complicated joins, and
implementing the right indexing strategies.

In short, a neatly arranged database is key to running e cient queries.

Example:

Normalization reduces redundancy, but strategic denormalization can

reduce complex joins:

-- Adding frequently joined data as a column in a table

ALTER TABLE orders ADD COLUMN customer_name VARCHAR(255);

Prefer UNION ALL to UNION

You should opt for UNION ALL instead of UNION if you don’t need to get rid
of duplicate entries. UNION ALL skips the step of sorting data to eliminate
duplicates, making it a quicker option.

Essentially, UNION ALL is speedier because it doesn’t bother removing

duplicates, unlike UNION.

Example:

SELECT name FROM employees WHERE status = 'active'

UNION ALL
SELECT name FROM contractors WHERE status = 'active';

Selecting Specific Fields

Choosing speci c elds in the SELECT clause instead of using SELECT *
reduces the data that needs to be handled and moved, which in turn boosts
the performance of your query.

In simpler terms, only pick the elds you really need for your task.

Example:

SELECT id, name FROM customers;

Instead of SELECT * FROM customers; .

Use Stored Procedures

Stored procedures wrap up complex tasks and improve performance by
being pre-compiled and reusing execution plans e ciently. They also boost
security and cut down on the amount of data sent over the network.

In essence, stored procedures keep SQL operations on the server side,

leading to better performance.

Example:

CREATE PROCEDURE GetActiveCustomers()

BEGIN
SELECT * FROM customers WHERE active = TRUE;
END;

Avoid Cursors
Cursors, which handle data one row at a time, can use up a lot of resources
because of their sequential processing approach. It’s better to use
operations that deal with data in sets whenever you can, as these are more
e cient and can handle larger amounts of data more e ectively.

In simple terms, working with data in batches is generally more e cient

than processing it row by row, as cursors do.

Example:
Avoid:

DECLARE cursor_name CURSOR FOR SELECT * FROM table_name;

Prefer set-based operations wherever possible.

Minimize the Use of Wildcard Characters

Using wildcard characters, particularly at the start of a string (like in the
case of LIKE ‘%term’), can slow down performance because it stops indexes
from being used e ectively. It’s best to limit and think carefully about using
them.

Example:

Avoid:

SELECT * FROM customers WHERE name LIKE '%Smith';

Prefer:

SELECT * FROM customers WHERE name LIKE 'Smith%';

Monitor Query Performance

Keeping an eye on how your queries perform regularly can help spot areas
that need improvement and chances to make them run better. Using things
like query execution plans and database pro ling tools can really help with
this process.

In simpler terms, regularly check and tweak your queries using the right
tools and techniques.

Example:

EXPLAIN SELECT * FROM customers WHERE name = 'Smith';

EXPLAIN shows how MySQL executes a query, helping identify potential

ine ciencies.

Use Appropriate Join Types

Picking the correct join type (INNER, LEFT, RIGHT, FULL) according to how
tables are related and what data you need to get can greatly impact how well
your query performs.
In essence, choosing the appropriate join type is key to making your queries
run more e ciently.

Example:

SELECT orders.id, customers.name FROM orders

INNER JOIN customers ON orders.customer_id = customers.id;

Use INNER JOIN to retrieve orders with corresponding customer information.

Use Temp Table Instead of Subqueries

Using temporary tables can make complicated queries easier to handle and
run faster. They work by dividing operations that involve many subqueries
or intricate calculations into simpler, more manageable parts.

In short, temporary tables help streamline complex queries.

Example:

CREATE TEMPORARY TABLE IF NOT EXISTS temp_orders AS (SELECT * FROM orders WHERE
status = 'Pending');
SELECT * FROM temp_orders JOIN customers ON temp_orders.customer_id = customers
.id;

Avoid SELECT
The recommendation to “avoid SELECT” probably means you should skip
selecting columns you don’t need in the SELECT clause. It’s important to ask
only for the columns required for your particular task to cut down on how
much data is processed and the time it takes to send this data over the
network

Avoid Using Too Many Joins

Although joins are a strong feature, using them too much can make queries
run slowly. Making the database layout more e cient or trying di erent
methods like subselects or temporary tables could help reduce the reliance
on too many joins.

Define Your Requirements

Having a clear understanding of what data you need to fetch can lead to
creating more e cient queries. This means getting to know the data, how
it’s organized, and what you aim to achieve with the query.

In simple terms, knowing exactly what data you’re a er makes it easier to

write e ective queries.

Example:
De ne the exact information needed before writing your query to avoid over-
fetching data.

Missing Indexes
Finding and setting up indexes that are missing is a key part of making
queries run faster. By looking at how queries are executed, you can gure
out which tables could bene t from indexes to cut down on the amount of
data they need to go through.

In simpler terms, make sure to add indexes to columns you use a lot to
speed things up.

Example:

CREATE INDEX idx_order_status ON orders(status);

Optimize Your SQL Code

Writing e cient SQL code involves practices such as avoiding unnecessary
calculations within loops, using case statements judiciously, and optimizing
logic for conditional operations.

Review and re ne your SQL queries regularly.

Example:

Optimize by combining operations, removing unnecessary conditions, and

using e cient functions.

Simplify Joins
Simplifying join conditions and reducing the number of tables involved in a
join can enhance query performance. This might involve restructuring the
database or rethinking the approach to data retrieval.

Use the simplest possible joins that get the job done.

Example:

SELECT * FROM orders o JOIN customers c ON o.customer_id = c.id;

Use WHERE Instead of HAVING

WHERE clauses lter data before it’s grouped together, and HAVING clauses
do so a erward. This makes WHERE clauses more e cient for narrowing
down data. Whenever you can, use WHERE to start ltering rows early in
the process of running a query.

In simple terms, it’s best to use WHERE to lter rows as soon as possible in
your query.
Example:

SELECT * FROM orders WHERE order_date > '2020-01-01';

Avoid Negative Searches

Queries that include conditions such as NOT IN, NOT EXISTS, or start with
wildcards (like using LIKE ‘%text’) tend to run slower. This is because such
conditions make it harder to use indexes e ectively. By avoiding or limiting
the use of these patterns, you can make your queries run faster.

In simpler terms, using negative conditions in your queries can make them
less e cient.

Example:

Avoid:

SELECT * FROM customers WHERE NOT (age < 18);

Prefer positive conditions.

Avoiding Loops
In SQL, iterative operations (loops) can usually be replaced with set-based
operations, which are more e cient and better optimized by the database
engine.

Minimize or eliminate loops in SQL procedures.

Example:

Avoid procedural loops and opt for set-based operations.

Conclusion

Optimizing SQL queries is a critical skill for developers and DBAs alike. By
applying the strategies outlined above, including appropriate indexing,
avoiding costly operations, and leveraging the database’s features, one can
signi cantly enhance the performance of their database applications.
Continuous learning and performance monitoring are key to maintaining
and improving query e ciency.

FAQ

How can I speed up a slow-running SQL query?

Start by analyzing the query execution plan to identify bottlenecks. Use
indexes e ectively, avoid using SELECT *, limit the use of JOINs by only
fetching necessary data, and consider using WHERE clauses to lter rows
early.

Why is my query with JOIN operations slow, and how can I improve it?
Queries with JOINs can be slow if they’re not using indexes e ciently or if
they’re joining large datasets. To improve performance, ensure that the
columns used for joining are indexed. Also, consider whether you can limit
the datasets being joined with WHERE clauses before the JOIN.

What is the impact of using SELECT * in my queries?

Using SELECT * can negatively impact performance because it retrieves all
columns from the table, including those not needed for your speci c
operation. This increases the amount of data processed and transferred.
Specify only the necessary columns in your SELECT clause.

How do indexes improve SQL query performance?

Indexes improve query performance by allowing the database engine to nd

data without scanning the entire table. They are especially bene cial for
queries with WHERE clauses, JOIN operations, and ORDER BY statements.
However, keep in mind that excessive indexing can slow down write
operations.

Can using temporary tables improve query performance?

Yes, in some cases, using temporary tables to store intermediate results can
simplify complex queries and improve performance. This is particularly
useful for breaking down complex calculations or when working with
multiple subqueries.

What is the difference between using IN and EXISTS, and which is faster?

EXISTS can be faster than IN in many cases because EXISTS stops

processing as soon as it nds a match, whereas IN might scan the entire
dataset. Use EXISTS for subquery conditions where you’re checking for the
existence of a record.

How can I optimize a query that uses a lot of subqueries?

Consider replacing some subqueries with JOINs or using temporary tables

to hold intermediate results. This can reduce the complexity of the query
and potentially improve performance.

What are some best practices for writing efficient SQL queries?
Some best practices include using indexes wisely, avoiding unnecessary
columns in the SELECT clause, ltering data early with WHERE clauses, and
preferring set-based operations over loops. Regularly review and refactor
your queries for performance improvements.

How does pagination affect SQL query performance, and how can I
optimize it?
Pagination can a ect performance by requiring the database to process
large amounts of data for each page request. To optimize, use LIMIT and
OFFSET clauses wisely, and consider caching page results for frequently
accessed pages.

Why is my query with a lot of OR conditions slow, and how can I optimize it?
Queries with many OR conditions can be slow because they require the
database to evaluate multiple conditions, which can be ine cient. Consider
restructuring your query to minimize the use of OR or using UNION to
combine the results of simpler queries.

Related Article:
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Exploring Case Sensitivity in SQL Queries.
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Can SQL Store Images?

Exploring Image Storage in SQL.
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What is the difference between SQL and Spark operators : A

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A Guide to SQL and Spark Operators.
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