12. Using the Query Optimizer : Database Statistics : Example: Before and After Optimization
 
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Example: Before and After Optimization
If statistics are available on a column referenced in a WHERE clause, the query optimizer uses the information to choose the most efficient QEP. Understanding how this information is used can be helpful in analyzing query performance. For more information, see Query Execution Plans (see page Query Execution Plans).
Two QEPs showing the effect of optimization are presented here. The first is a QEP before optimizing; the second shows the same query after optimization. The query used is a join, where both the r and s tables use the B-tree storage structure:
select * from r, s
  where s.a > 4000 and r.a = s.a;
QEP Before Optimization
Before obtaining statistics, the optimizer chooses a full sort-merge (FSM) join, because it assumes that 10% of each table satisfies the qualification “a > 4000,” as shown in the QEP diagram below:
QUERY PLAN 4,1, no timeout, of main query
                 FSM Join(a)
                 Heap
                 Pages 1 Tups 267
                 D15 C44
               /              \
          Proj-rest          Proj-rest
          Sorted(a)          Sorted(a)
          Pages 5 Tups 1235  Pages 1 Tups 267
          D11 C12            D4 C3
            /              /
   r                      s
   B-Tree(a)              B-Tree (a)
   Pages 172 Tups 12352   Pages 37 Tups 2666
QEP After Optimization
After obtaining statistics, the optimizer chooses a Key join, because only one row satisfies the qualification “a > 4000,” as shown in the QEP diagram below:
QUERY PLAN 4,1, no timeout, of main query
                 K Join(a)
                 Heap
                 Pages 1 Tups 1
                 D4 C1
               /              \
         Proj-rest          r
         Sorted(a)          B-Tree(a)
         Pages 1 Tups 1     Pages 172 Tups 12352
         D2 C1
           /
  s
  B-Tree(a)
  Pages 37 Tups 2666
The cost of the key join is significantly less than the cost of the FSM join because the join involves far fewer rows.