Index Internal Structure in SQL Server: Stairway to SQL Server Indexes Level 10
A detailed look the B-Tree structure – Leaf level and non-leaf level.
2012-01-20
17,111 reads
David Durant
Reading Query Plans: Stairway to SQL Server Indexes Level 9
Determining how, and if, SQL Server is using your indexes.
2011-10-05
15,806 reads
Unique Indexes in SQL Server: Stairway to SQL Server Indexes Level 8
Indexes that ensure data integrity in addition to locating rows.
2011-09-14
13,410 reads
Filtered Indexes in SQL Server: Stairway to SQL Server Indexes Level 7
A filtered index eliminates unusable entries from the index, producing an index that is as beneficial as, but much smaller than, an unfiltered index. If a certain subset of a table's data is frequently requested, a filtered index can also be a covering index; resulting in a considerable reduction in IO.
2011-08-24
15,263 reads
Bookmarks in SQL Server Indexes: Stairway to SQL Server Indexes Level 6
A nonclustered index entry consists of search key columns, included columns, and the bookmark. The bookmark value will be either a RID or the clustered index's key, depending upon whether the table is a heap or a clustered index. Choosing the best clustered index for a table requires that you follow three guidelines to ensure that the index key will make a good bookmark.
2011-08-03
15,794 reads
Blogs
Catching Up On SQLOrlando
By Andy Warren
Somehow two years have elapsed since my last update; hopefully it won’t be that...
Advice I Like: Pyramid Schemes
By Steve Jones
If someone is trying to convince you it’s not a pyramid scheme, it’s a...
Using Prompt AI for a Travel Data Analysis
By Steve Jones
I was looking back at my year and decided to see if SQL Prompt...
Forums
Database file shrink issue.
Hi experts, I have a 3+ TB database on a 2019 sql server which...
The North Star for the Year
Comments posted to this topic are about the item The North Star for the...
Multiple Escape Characters
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Multiple Escape Characters
Question of the Day
Multiple Escape Characters
In SQL Server 2025, I run this code (in a database with the appropriate collation):
SELECT UNISTR('%*3041%*308A%*304C%*3068 and good night', '%*') AS 'A Classic';
What is returned? See possible answers