"Ben has simplified sub-queries for me, regex, and many other topics. I feel slow when reading a lot of explanations off the internet, but his explanations are so clear, they make these topics easy to understand."

Nancy T, Database Star Academy member

What’s Inside Write Faster SQL

Module 1

Find Slow Queries

Sometimes you have a query in mind that you want to improve, but other times you don't. In this module, you'll learn how to find SQL queries on your database that may be slow and in need of improvement.

Module Highlights:

• Run pre-defined scripts to find slow queries on your database (for Oracle, SQL Server, MySQL, and Postgres), so you can stop guessing what is slow and save time.
• Know what to look for in the results of these queries so you can focus on the areas with the biggest impace

Module 2

Read and Understand the Execution Plan

Once you've got a query you want to improve, the first step is to understand how the database executes it, so you know what part is slow and why. In this module, you'll learn what the execution plan is, how to generate it in multiple database vendors, and how to understand it.

Module Highlights:

• What an execution plan is and why it's important, so you can use it when improving your query's performance.
• How to use your SQL editor to view the execution plan, so you can easily see what's happening
• How to read the execution plan and make sense of what it's showing you, so you know what the database is doing with your query
• What each of the steps and values in an execution plan mean, so you know where to focus on when looking to improve your query

Module 3

Add the Right Indexes to Dramatically Improve Your Query's Performance

Indexes are very helpful tools to improve performance, but they don't always help, and too many can be harmful. In this lesson, you'll learn what they are, how to create them, and the kinds of indexes you should create in different scenarios.

Module Highlights:

• The exact SQL to create an index on the database, so you can save time finding the commands.
• How to find existing indexes on your database, so you know what exists already before creating an index
• A range of criteria for what to create indexes on, so you can get some quick wins for improving your query
• The definition and examples of a "covering index", which can drastically improve the performance of certain types of queries

Module 4

Query Improvement Strategies You Should Almost Always Use

There are a range of strategies you can take to improve the performance of your query. In this module, you'll learn about some strategies that I believe you should almost always use in your SQL queries, to improve their readability and performance.

Module Highlights:

• How to compare the results of your query before making changes and after making changes, so you can easily know if you've broken your query with any changes.
• How, and why, to remove unnecessary columns and tables, avoid the DISTINCT keyword, the difference between Union and Union All, and how using IN and EXISTS can help, so you can improve the performance of your query.
• What bind variables are and how to use them, so you can avoid SQL security issues and improve performance.

Module 5

Query Improvement Strategies You Should Probably Use

Just like the previous module, there are a range of SQL and database strategies that you should probably use in your query - either because they may not apply to your specific query, or they may apply but don't offer a performance improvement. It's worth knowing these, because if they do work for you, they can really help.

Module Highlights:

• How to use Common Table Expressions (CTEs), so you can improve the readability and performance of your query.
• The difference between joins and subqueries and why joins are better, so you can avoid unnecessary data being retrieved.
• Using Case instead of Union and how it can helpimprove readability and improve performance
• How calculated fields and wildcard matching impact performance, so you know what you can do about it

Module 6

Query Strategies You Should Consider Using

There are a range of strategies that you should consider using in your query. They have the potential to improve you query's performance, so it's worth learning about these strategies.

Module Highlights:

• A pair of strategies that can help you simplify a complicated SELECT query and significantly improve its performance, which is a win-win.
• How to use a little-known method of calling functions to view data over multiple rows, so you can avoid writing subqueries or multiple queries.
• One thing to be aware of when writing pagination queries, and how to resolve it, so you can avoid performance issues as you get more and more pages.
• How to choose the right data types so you can get even more performance out of your database.

I'm very confident that this course can help you improve the performance of your SQL queries.
If you enrol in this course, and are not satisfied, let me know within 30 days of enrolling and I'll provide a refund for you.