Answer
Statistics contain value distribution info. SQL uses them to estimate row counts. Bad or outdated statistics cause wrong estimations, leading to slow plans.
Quick Answer
Statistics contain histograms showing how values are distributed in a column. The optimizer uses them to estimate row counts for each operation. If stats are stale — say after a large data load — estimates are wrong, plans are wrong, and queries get slow. Update statistics regularly in high-change tables.
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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