hints-transact-sql.md

title	Hints (Transact-SQL) | Microsoft Docs
ms.custom
ms.date	08/09/2017
ms.prod	sql
ms.prod_service	sql-database
ms.reviewer
ms.technology	t-sql
ms.topic	language-reference
dev_langs	TSQL
helpviewer_keywords	query optimizer [SQL Server], hints hints [SQL Server], about hints SELECT statement [SQL Server], hints hints [SQL Server] INSERT statement [SQL Server], hints UPDATE statement [SQL Server], hints DELETE statement [SQL Server], hints
ms.assetid	99412475-b0df-4264-9938-33a0b302b41a
author	VanMSFT
ms.author	vanto

Hints (Transact-SQL)

[!INCLUDEtsql-appliesto-ss2012-xxxx-xxxx-xxx-md]

Hints are options or strategies specified for enforcement by the [!INCLUDEssNoVersion] query processor on SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE, or DELETE statements. The hints override any execution plan the query optimizer might select for a query.

Caution

Because the [!INCLUDEssNoVersion] query optimizer typically selects the best execution plan for a query, we recommend that <join_hint>, <query_hint>, and <table_hint> be used only as a last resort by experienced developers and database administrators.

The following hints are described in this section:

• Join Hints

• Query Hints

• Table Hint