Using the FORCESEEK Query Hint

Forceseek is as you might expect a way to force the optimizer to go an index seek rather than an index scan. That doesn't meant the query will be faster though, and we've got a great demo that shows you the hint being used and not really achieving significantly better performance. Remember that seeks aren't always faster, especially if you're then doing a lot of bookmark lookups. It's one more tool in the toolbox, just not one you'll use every day.

Andy Warren is a software trainer focusing on SQL Server, a member of the PASS Board of Directors, and a principal in this site - SQLShare.com.

Alexander on 10/7/2010

the sample of the advantage wasn't actually shown that would say "in this situation it would bring you a better performance, etc".

Martin Miller on 10/7/2010

Thanks Andy.

nilanaksha on 10/7/2010

Good one to have it in our toolkit.

zahid on 10/7/2010

excellent

Veilinginfo on 10/8/2010

I'm going to stop watching video's on query optimization. too much hocus pocus. Apparently short video's on this subject are not the way to go forward for me. I like the other video's though

kalapala baburao on 10/8/2010

good

Purushtham Kumar katakam on 10/8/2010

Awesome explanation. Thanks for sharing the video.

George Verras on 10/8/2010

I like it. Rational use of query hints

JohnG on 10/8/2010

Great addition, keep them coming please!

borjonx on 10/8/2010

examples were not very good on this one

SQLSharma on 10/8/2010

Great webcast,may the Forceseek be with you!Thanks.

Prashant Thakwani on 10/8/2010

Good session. I like the last two lines in the demo where FORCESEEK does not work.

Michael on 11/16/2010

Thanks much