Is there a microsoft SQL query result cache equivalent? - sql

Question

I'm working with a tool that shows some counts from a table in a UI.
To get those numbers a singe query is executed every 5 seconds. I cannot make any structural changes in the tool, but I am able to change the query the gets the counts.
The problem is that the execution of the query can take up to 5 seconds, in wich the user can't do anything. The data that the query is fetching only changes like every few minutes.
The tool can run both on Oracle and MSSQL. In Oracle I was able to greatly improve the speed of the query by using the query result cache (added the /*+ RESULT_CACHE */ hint to the query). Since the result of the query only changes every now and then, caching it is a usable solution in this specific case. The executing time goes to something like 1ms instead of the 5 secodns it was before.
I was wondering if there is a equivalent in Microsoft SQL.

Answer 1

SQL Server Management Studio has the ability to show a query execution plan that shows the percentage of time spent on each part of a query. From the Query menu, investigate the "Display estimated execution plan" and "Include actual execution plan" menu items.
There's also a SQL Server query plan cache:
-- First, clear the cache.
-- WARNING: Do not execute this statement anywhere near production!
DBCC FREEPROCCACHE
-- Look at what executable plans are in cache
SELECT sc.*
FROM master.dbo.syscacheobjects AS sc
WHERE sc.cacheobjtype = 'Executable Plan'
-- Execute the following statement
SELECT t.*
FROM pubs.dbo.titles AS t
WHERE t.price = 19.99
-- Look at what executable plans are in cache and you'll
-- find that there's a plan for a NUMERIC(4,2)
SELECT sc.*
FROM master.dbo.syscacheobjects AS sc
WHERE sc.cacheobjtype = 'Executable Plan'
-- If you execute the EXACT same statement with a 4,2
-- then you will get THAT plan. But if you execute with a 5,2
-- then you'll get a new plan. Try this:
SELECT t.*
FROM pubs.dbo.titles AS t
WHERE price = 199.99
-- Look again at the cached executable plans, and you'll see a NEW one...
SELECT sc.*
FROM master.dbo.syscacheobjects AS sc
WHERE sc.cacheobjtype = 'Executable Plan'