Optimize Your First SQL Query

PawSQL analyzes a query in context, identifies potential issues, and produces actionable rewrite, index, and validation results in one workflow. This guide walks you through your first optimization.

This guide follows the core workflow shown in PawSQL in a Minute. Initial workspace setup may take a few extra minutes; after that, optimizing a query is a three-step process.

PawSQL in a Minute

What you will accomplish

By the end of this guide, you will know how to:

create or select a workspace;
submit a query for analysis;
review SQL findings, automatic rewrites, and index recommendations; and
compare performance evidence when a database connection is available.

Before you begin

You need:

access to a PawSQL deployment and a valid account;
a SELECT statement to analyze; and
the schema definitions referenced by the query, or access to a database connection.

For a quick evaluation, create a workspace from DDL—no live database is required. Connect to a database when you need statistics-aware index advice, execution plans, or performance validation.

Step 1: Create or select a workspace

A workspace stores the database type, version, schema definitions, and available statistics that form the context for optimization. Accurate context helps PawSQL parse the query correctly and produce relevant recommendations.

Open a workspace

Choose the database type and version

Select the database and version on which the query actually runs. SQL syntax, rewrite rules, and index capabilities vary by database, so avoid selecting an approximate substitute.

Provide schema context

Choose the method that fits your environment:

Import DDL
Connect a database

Paste or upload the relevant CREATE TABLE, CREATE INDEX, and related DDL. This is ideal for evaluations, development environments, or cases where direct database access is unavailable.

Create a workspace: choose a database type and import DDL or connect a database — Select a workspace, or create one from DDL or a database connection

Use a least-privilege, read-only account for production databases. Never expose passwords, internal addresses, or access tokens in screenshots, documentation, or source control.

Step 2: Submit a query

Open SQL Optimization in the workspace and paste the query into the editor. The following example retrieves the most recent paid orders for a customer:

SELECT o.order_id,
       o.customer_id,
       o.created_at,
       o.total_amount
FROM orders o
WHERE o.customer_id = 10001
  AND o.status = 'PAID'
ORDER BY o.created_at DESC
LIMIT 20;

Enter the SQL

Paste a complete statement. Keep the real table names, columns, join predicates, and filters because they directly affect findings and index recommendations.

Confirm the context

Verify the selected workspace and default database or schema. If the query uses a different schema, qualify the objects in SQL or select the correct schema in the task settings.

Run the optimization

Click Optimize. PawSQL parses the statement and runs SQL checks, rewrite analysis, and index analysis using the context available in the workspace.

Paste the sample query into the SQL editor before optimizing — Confirm the workspace and schema, then submit the query

Step 3: Review the results

Start with the summary, then inspect each recommendation. The available result sections depend on the query and workspace context.

SQL quality check

Surfaces correctness, performance, security, and maintainability risks, with the matched rule and remediation guidance.

Automatic rewrite

Produces a semantically equivalent candidate that is easier for the database optimizer to execute efficiently.

Index Recommendation

Evaluates filter, join, sort, and grouping columns and provides candidate index DDL.

Performance Validation

When a database is connected, compares execution plans or measured behavior before and after optimization.

Optimization result: index recommendation, review findings, and performance summary — Open the detailed findings, rewrite, index, and validation views from the result summary

Recommended review order

Resolve high-priority findings first. Correctness and security issues usually take precedence over performance-only advice.
Compare the original and rewritten SQL. Confirm the business meaning, selected columns, and ordering behavior.
Evaluate each proposed index. Check for existing duplicate or prefix-overlapping indexes and account for write and storage overhead.
Inspect the validation evidence. Prefer changes supported by an improved execution plan or controlled measurements.

Do not apply rewritten SQL or create indexes directly in production without validation. Confirm result equivalence in a test environment and follow your organization’s change process.

If no recommendation appears

The SQL cannot be parsed

Confirm that the workspace database type and version are correct, the statement is complete, and the query does not rely on unsupported dialect syntax.

Object information is missing

Add the DDL for every referenced table, or verify that the database account can read metadata from the required schema.

No index is recommended

This does not necessarily mean the analysis failed. Existing indexes may already cover the access path, or an additional index may not benefit this query. Review the findings and execution plan together.

Performance validation is unavailable

Validation generally requires a working database connection, sufficient permissions, and representative data. A DDL-only workspace can still support parsing, rule checks, rewrites, and parts of index analysis.

Next steps

Choose how to use PawSQL

Compare web, IDE, API, and pipeline workflows.

Supported databases

Check database, version, and feature compatibility.

Query Rewrite

Learn how rewrites work and where their boundaries are.

Performance Validation

Learn how to compare optimization candidates with execution evidence.

​PawSQL in a Minute

​What you will accomplish

​Before you begin

​Step 1: Create or select a workspace

​Step 2: Submit a query

​Step 3: Review the results

SQL quality check

Automatic rewrite

Index Recommendation

Performance Validation

​Recommended review order

​If no recommendation appears

​Next steps

Choose how to use PawSQL

Supported databases

Query Rewrite

Performance Validation

PawSQL in a Minute

What you will accomplish

Before you begin

Step 1: Create or select a workspace

Step 2: Submit a query

Step 3: Review the results

Recommended review order

If no recommendation appears

Next steps