Hint-QPT: Hints for Robust Query Performance Tuning

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Abstract

Query optimizers rely heavily on selectivity estimates to choose efficient execution plans, but inaccuracies in these estimates often result in poor query performance. We introduce Hint-QPT ( Hint s for Robust Q uery P erformance T uning), an interactive tool designed to help users diagnose and improve query performance. Hint-QPT proactively recommends robust plans that are resilient to uncertainty in selectivity estimates, identifies sensitive subqueries for which selectivity estimation errors greatly affect plan quality, and provides intuitive interfaces for targeted selectivity adjustments. Users can either choose the recommended robust plans for execution, or acquire additional statistics on the identified sensitive subqueries to tune query performance. Moreover, Hint-QPT visualizes the alternative execution plans and their costs under uncertainty, helping users to better understand their robustness.