All about Indexes - Part 1
50+50 minute session for SQLBits 2026Saturday - 25 Apr 2026 - 14:10 - 15:00 Room 2BTL; DR
Indexes are essential to good database performance, but it can be hard to decide what indexes to create. In this session we'll look at guidelines for index creation
Session Details
Indexes are essential to good database performance, but it can be hard to decide what indexes to create and the ‘rules’ around indexes often appear to be vague or downright contradictory.
In this session we’ll dive deep into indexes, have a look at their architecture and internal structure and how that affects the way that indexes are used in query execution. We’ll look at why clustered indexes are recommended on almost all tables and how their architecture affects the choice of columns. We’ll look at nonclustered indexes; their architecture and how query design affects what indexes should be created to support various queries.
In this session we’ll dive deep into indexes, have a look at their architecture and internal structure and how that affects the way that indexes are used in query execution. We’ll look at why clustered indexes are recommended on almost all tables and how their architecture affects the choice of columns. We’ll look at nonclustered indexes; their architecture and how query design affects what indexes should be created to support various queries.
3 things you'll get out of this session
Understanding of index architecture
Learn how and when the optimiser will use indexes
Learn how to design indexes to support the queries that run against the DB
Learn how and when the optimiser will use indexes
Learn how to design indexes to support the queries that run against the DB
Speakers
Gail Shaw's other proposed sessions for 2026
All about Indexes - Part 2 - 2026