seniorT-SQL

What is SQL Server wait statistics and how do you interpret them?

Updated May 17, 2026

Short answer

Wait statistics measure time spent waiting on resources like CPU, IO, locks, and memory.

Deep explanation

SQL Server tracks waits to identify bottlenecks. Common waits include PAGEIOLATCH (disk IO), CXPACKET (parallelism), LCK_M_* (locking), and SOS_SCHEDULER_YIELD (CPU pressure). Proper analysis involves removing noise, categorizing waits, and correlating with workload patterns.

Unlock with a Pro subscription to view this section.

View pricing

Real-world example

No real-world example available yet.

Unlock with a Pro subscription to view this section.

Upgrade to Pro

Common mistakes

No common mistakes listed yet.

Unlock with a Pro subscription to view this section.

Upgrade to Pro

Follow-up questions

No follow-up questions available yet.

Unlock with a Pro subscription to view this section.

Upgrade to Pro

More T-SQL interview questions

View all →