Answer
Elapsed time varies with workload and server load, but logical reads measure actual data touched. Reducing logical reads consistently reduces CPU, I/O, and cache pressure. Logical reads are the primary, stable metric for performance tuning.
Quick Answer
Elapsed time includes waits — network, I/O, locks. Logical reads measure actual work done by the query engine. A query that takes 5 seconds but does 1 million logical reads has a different problem than one that takes 5 seconds waiting for a lock. Reducing logical reads means the query is fundamentally more efficient.
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