Answer
Most query time is spent in one or two heavy operators like hash joins, sorts, or scans. Identifying these bottlenecks allows focused tuning efforts, resulting in faster optimization and greater performance gains.
Quick Answer
The most expensive operator in an execution plan (highest % cost) is where the most work is happening. Focus tuning there first — it's the bottleneck. A 95% cost table scan means adding an index there will have far more impact than optimizing anything else in the plan. Always fix the biggest problem first.
S
SugharaIQ Editorial Team
Verified Answer
This answer has been peer-reviewed by industry experts holding senior engineering roles to ensure technical accuracy and relevance for modern interview standards.
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Source: SugharaIQ