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sqlsubqueryquery-optimizationwhere-clause

How to speed up sql query execution?

The task is to execute the sql query:

select * from x where user in (select user from x where id = '1')

The subquery contains about 1000 id so it takes a long time. Maybe this question was already there, but how can I speed it up? (if it is possible to speed up please write for PL SQL and T-SQL or at least one of them).

Solution

  • I would start by rewriting the in condition to exists:

    select * 
from x 
where exists (select 1 from x x1 where x.user = x.user and x1.id = 1)

    Then, consider an index on x(user, id) - or x(id, user) (you can try both and see if one offers better improvement that the other).

    Another possibility is to use window functions:

    select * 
from (
    select x.*, max(case when id = 1 then 1 else 0 end) over(partition by user) flag
    from x
) x
where flag = 1

    This might, or might not, perform better than the not exists solution, depending on various factors.