Chapter 14. Oracle9i Application SQL Tuning

In this chapter, we will discuss how to monitor SQL statements, add indexes, and make the changes necessary to produce top-performing Oracle-based applications. Oracle uses one of two available optimizers to arrive at a plan, the Explain Plan, of how it will retrieve data and what, if any, indexes will be used. Understanding the contents of this explain plan is essential as well as the Oracle startup parameters that help control SQL performance.

This chapter teaches you the following:

• What Is the SQL Explain Plan?

• The Oracle Optimizers

• Tuning SQL Statements

• Helpful INIT.ORA Parameters

• SQL Coding Guidelines