---
title: "SQL Server, Plan Cache object"
description: Learn about the Plan Cache object, which provides counters to monitor how SQL Server uses memory to store objects such as stored procedures and triggers.
ms.custom: ""
ms.date: "07/13/2021"
ms.prod: sql
ms.prod_service: "database-engine"
ms.reviewer: ""
ms.technology: performance
ms.topic: conceptual
helpviewer_keywords: 
  - "Plan Cache object"
  - "SQLServer:Plan Cache"
author: WilliamDAssafMSFT
ms.author: wiassaf
---
# SQL Server, Plan Cache object
 [!INCLUDE [SQL Server](../../includes/applies-to-version/sqlserver.md)]

  The **Plan Cache** object provides counters to monitor how [!INCLUDE[ssNoVersion](../../includes/ssnoversion-md.md)] uses memory to store objects such as stored procedures, ad hoc and prepared [!INCLUDE[tsql](../../includes/tsql-md.md)] statements, and triggers. Multiple instances of the **Plan Cache** object can be monitored at the same time, with each instance representing a different type of plan to monitor.  
  
 This table describes are the **SQLServer:Plan Cache**counters.  
  
|SQL Server Plan Cache counters|Description|  
|------------------------------------|-----------------|  
|**Cache Hit Ratio**|Ratio between cache hits and lookups.|  
|**Cache Hit Ratio Base**|For internal use only.| 
|**Cache Object Counts**|Number of cache objects in the cache.|  
|**Cache Objects in use**|Number of cache objects in use.|  
|**Cache Pages**|Number of 8-kilobyte (KB) pages used by cache objects.|  
  
 Each counter in the object contains the following instances:  
  
|Plan Cache instance|Description|  
|-------------------------|-----------------|  
|**_Total**|Information for all types of cache instances.|  
|**SQL Plans**|Query plans produced from an ad hoc [!INCLUDE[tsql](../../includes/tsql-md.md)] query, including auto-parameterized queries, or from [!INCLUDE[tsql](../../includes/tsql-md.md)] statements prepared using `sp_prepare` or `sp_cursorprepare`. [!INCLUDE[ssNoVersion](../../includes/ssnoversion-md.md)] caches the plans for ad hoc [!INCLUDE[tsql](../../includes/tsql-md.md)] statements for later reuse if the identical [!INCLUDE[tsql](../../includes/tsql-md.md)] statement is later executed. User-parameterized queries (even if not explicitly prepared) are also monitored as Prepared SQL Plans.|  
|**Object Plans**|Query plans generated by creating a stored procedure, function, or trigger.|  
|**Bound Trees**|Normalized trees for views, rules, computed columns, and check constraints.|  
|**Extended Stored Procedures**|Catalog information for extended stores procedures.|  
|**Temporary Tables & Table Variables**|Cache information related to temporary tables and table variables.|  
  
  
## Example

You begin to explore the query performance counters in this object using this T-SQL query on the [sys.dm_os_performance_counters](../system-dynamic-management-views/sys-dm-os-performance-counters-transact-sql.md) dynamic management view:

```sql
SELECT * FROM sys.dm_os_performance_counters
WHERE object_name LIKE '%Plan Cache%';
```  


## See also  
 [Server Memory Server Configuration Options](../../database-engine/configure-windows/server-memory-server-configuration-options.md)   
 [SQL Server, Buffer Manager Object](../../relational-databases/performance-monitor/sql-server-buffer-manager-object.md)   
 [Monitor Resource Usage (System Monitor)](../../relational-databases/performance-monitor/monitor-resource-usage-system-monitor.md)