seniorT-SQL

What is statistics auto-update and auto-create behavior in SQL Server?

Updated May 17, 2026

Short answer

SQL Server automatically creates and updates statistics based on data changes.

Deep explanation

Statistics help optimizer estimate row counts. Auto-create statistics generates stats for columns used in predicates. Auto-update statistics refreshes them when data changes exceed thresholds. In large tables, asynchronous updates improve performance stability.

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