Query Plans interview questions

27 real Query Plans questions from the SQL bank, as asked in Indian campus drives and tech interviews. Every question has a verified answer and an AI-tutor explanation on placd — free to start.

1. What is EXPLAIN?

Junior
  1. A.an access method that walks an index to locate the matching rows and then fetches them, efficient when few rows qualify
  2. B.the command that shows the chosen execution strategy for a statement without necessarily running it
  3. C.an access path that returns results purely from a covering index because every requested column is present there
  4. D.an access method that reads every row of a table from start to finish, used when no useful index exists or most rows match
Reveal the answer + AI explanation — free account

3. Which statement is correct?

Junior
  1. A.EXPLAIN — an access method that reads every row of a table from start to finish, used when no useful index exists or most rows match
  2. B.EXPLAIN — the command that shows the chosen execution strategy for a statement without necessarily running it
  3. C.EXPLAIN — the tree of operators the engine selects to compute a query result, including scan, join, and sort steps
  4. D.EXPLAIN — an access method that walks an index to locate the matching rows and then fetches them, efficient when few rows qualify
Reveal the answer + AI explanation — free account

4. What is Execution plan?

Mid
  1. A.the component that compares candidate plans by estimated cost and picks the cheapest one to execute
  2. B.a search condition expressed so the engine can use an index, meaning the column appears bare without a function wrapped around it
  3. C.the tree of operators the engine selects to compute a query result, including scan, join, and sort steps
  4. D.an access method that walks an index to locate the matching rows and then fetches them, efficient when few rows qualify
Reveal the answer + AI explanation — free account

6. Which statement is correct?

Mid
  1. A.Execution plan — an access method that reads every row of a table from start to finish, used when no useful index exists or most rows match
  2. B.Execution plan — a search condition expressed so the engine can use an index, meaning the column appears bare without a function wrapped around it
  3. C.Execution plan — the tree of operators the engine selects to compute a query result, including scan, join, and sort steps
  4. D.Execution plan — an access method that walks an index to locate the matching rows and then fetches them, efficient when few rows qualify
Reveal the answer + AI explanation — free account

7. What is Sequential scan?

Mid
  1. A.the component that compares candidate plans by estimated cost and picks the cheapest one to execute
  2. B.the stored histograms and row counts the planner consults to estimate how many rows each operation will produce
  3. C.an access method that reads every row of a table from start to finish, used when no useful index exists or most rows match
  4. D.an access path that returns results purely from a covering index because every requested column is present there
Reveal the answer + AI explanation — free account

8. Which term means: "an access method that reads every row of a table from start to finish, used when no useful index exists or most rows match"?

Mid
  1. A.Table statistics
  2. B.Execution plan
  3. C.Sequential scan
  4. D.Index scan
Reveal the answer + AI explanation — free account

9. Which statement is correct?

Mid
  1. A.Sequential scan — the stored histograms and row counts the planner consults to estimate how many rows each operation will produce
  2. B.Sequential scan — the planner's predicted number of rows flowing out of a step, which drives access-method and join choices
  3. C.Sequential scan — an access method that walks an index to locate the matching rows and then fetches them, efficient when few rows qualify
  4. D.Sequential scan — an access method that reads every row of a table from start to finish, used when no useful index exists or most rows match
Reveal the answer + AI explanation — free account

10. What is Index scan?

Mid
  1. A.the component that compares candidate plans by estimated cost and picks the cheapest one to execute
  2. B.an access path that returns results purely from a covering index because every requested column is present there
  3. C.the tree of operators the engine selects to compute a query result, including scan, join, and sort steps
  4. D.an access method that walks an index to locate the matching rows and then fetches them, efficient when few rows qualify
Reveal the answer + AI explanation — free account

11. Which term means: "an access method that walks an index to locate the matching rows and then fetches them, efficient when few rows qualify"?

Mid
  1. A.Sequential scan
  2. B.SARGable predicate
  3. C.Index scan
  4. D.Index-only scan
Reveal the answer + AI explanation — free account

12. Which statement is correct?

Mid
  1. A.Index scan — a search condition expressed so the engine can use an index, meaning the column appears bare without a function wrapped around it
  2. B.Index scan — an access method that walks an index to locate the matching rows and then fetches them, efficient when few rows qualify
  3. C.Index scan — the stored histograms and row counts the planner consults to estimate how many rows each operation will produce
  4. D.Index scan — the command that shows the chosen execution strategy for a statement without necessarily running it
Reveal the answer + AI explanation — free account

13. What is SARGable predicate?

Senior
  1. A.a search condition expressed so the engine can use an index, meaning the column appears bare without a function wrapped around it
  2. B.an access method that walks an index to locate the matching rows and then fetches them, efficient when few rows qualify
  3. C.the tree of operators the engine selects to compute a query result, including scan, join, and sort steps
  4. D.the command that shows the chosen execution strategy for a statement without necessarily running it
Reveal the answer + AI explanation — free account

14. Which term means: "a search condition expressed so the engine can use an index, meaning the column appears bare without a function wrapped around it"?

Senior
  1. A.Sequential scan
  2. B.Index scan
  3. C.EXPLAIN
  4. D.SARGable predicate
Reveal the answer + AI explanation — free account

15. Which statement is correct?

Senior
  1. A.SARGable predicate — the tree of operators the engine selects to compute a query result, including scan, join, and sort steps
  2. B.SARGable predicate — a search condition expressed so the engine can use an index, meaning the column appears bare without a function wrapped around it
  3. C.SARGable predicate — an access path that returns results purely from a covering index because every requested column is present there
  4. D.SARGable predicate — the component that compares candidate plans by estimated cost and picks the cheapest one to execute
Reveal the answer + AI explanation — free account

16. What is Query optimizer?

Mid
  1. A.the planner's predicted number of rows flowing out of a step, which drives access-method and join choices
  2. B.the tree of operators the engine selects to compute a query result, including scan, join, and sort steps
  3. C.the component that compares candidate plans by estimated cost and picks the cheapest one to execute
  4. D.the command that shows the chosen execution strategy for a statement without necessarily running it
Reveal the answer + AI explanation — free account

18. Which statement is correct?

Mid
  1. A.Query optimizer — the component that compares candidate plans by estimated cost and picks the cheapest one to execute
  2. B.Query optimizer — an access path that returns results purely from a covering index because every requested column is present there
  3. C.Query optimizer — a search condition expressed so the engine can use an index, meaning the column appears bare without a function wrapped around it
  4. D.Query optimizer — the planner's predicted number of rows flowing out of a step, which drives access-method and join choices
Reveal the answer + AI explanation — free account

19. What is Table statistics?

Senior
  1. A.the component that compares candidate plans by estimated cost and picks the cheapest one to execute
  2. B.the command that shows the chosen execution strategy for a statement without necessarily running it
  3. C.the stored histograms and row counts the planner consults to estimate how many rows each operation will produce
  4. D.an access path that returns results purely from a covering index because every requested column is present there
Reveal the answer + AI explanation — free account

21. Which statement is correct?

Senior
  1. A.Table statistics — the stored histograms and row counts the planner consults to estimate how many rows each operation will produce
  2. B.Table statistics — an access path that returns results purely from a covering index because every requested column is present there
  3. C.Table statistics — a search condition expressed so the engine can use an index, meaning the column appears bare without a function wrapped around it
  4. D.Table statistics — an access method that walks an index to locate the matching rows and then fetches them, efficient when few rows qualify
Reveal the answer + AI explanation — free account

22. What is Cardinality estimate?

Senior
  1. A.a search condition expressed so the engine can use an index, meaning the column appears bare without a function wrapped around it
  2. B.the command that shows the chosen execution strategy for a statement without necessarily running it
  3. C.the planner's predicted number of rows flowing out of a step, which drives access-method and join choices
  4. D.the stored histograms and row counts the planner consults to estimate how many rows each operation will produce
Reveal the answer + AI explanation — free account

24. Which statement is correct?

Senior
  1. A.Cardinality estimate — the stored histograms and row counts the planner consults to estimate how many rows each operation will produce
  2. B.Cardinality estimate — the planner's predicted number of rows flowing out of a step, which drives access-method and join choices
  3. C.Cardinality estimate — an access method that walks an index to locate the matching rows and then fetches them, efficient when few rows qualify
  4. D.Cardinality estimate — an access path that returns results purely from a covering index because every requested column is present there
Reveal the answer + AI explanation — free account

25. What is Index-only scan?

Senior
  1. A.the stored histograms and row counts the planner consults to estimate how many rows each operation will produce
  2. B.the command that shows the chosen execution strategy for a statement without necessarily running it
  3. C.the component that compares candidate plans by estimated cost and picks the cheapest one to execute
  4. D.an access path that returns results purely from a covering index because every requested column is present there
Reveal the answer + AI explanation — free account

27. Which statement is correct?

Senior
  1. A.Index-only scan — the planner's predicted number of rows flowing out of a step, which drives access-method and join choices
  2. B.Index-only scan — an access path that returns results purely from a covering index because every requested column is present there
  3. C.Index-only scan — the component that compares candidate plans by estimated cost and picks the cheapest one to execute
  4. D.Index-only scan — a search condition expressed so the engine can use an index, meaning the column appears bare without a function wrapped around it
Reveal the answer + AI explanation — free account

Free to start

Answers, AI explanations, and a scored voice mock interview

Sign up free to check your answers with explanations, ask the AI tutor anything on any question, and take one full AI mock interview — scored like a real panel.

Practice Query Plans free