Summary
The Query Optimizer is the technology that analyzes a query, the indexes available, and the data distribution, to compile a good-enough query execution plan for that query. The best way to optimize queries is to provide the Query Optimizer with good indexing and up-to-date statistics. From there, SQL Server usually does a great job of handling the rest.
The next chapter moves from single-user queries to multiuser contention and scalability — transactions — isolation — and the ACID properties. For some, the next topic is considered one of the harder topics in the database world, but it's foundational to developing SQL Server databases.
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