Column Store, Delta Store, and More

Published 26, Dec 2025

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Description:
In this video, I delve into some fascinating aspects of columnstore indexes and the Delta store in SQL Server, exploring how data is inserted and managed within these structures. I demonstrate an interesting scenario where SQL Server chooses to use a row mode eager spool during insert operations, leading to the creation of Delta store data that isn't visible through standard documentation views. This video offers insights into how SQL Server handles data compression and tombstone management in columnstore indexes, even when you might expect more aggressive compression due to the nature of the inserts. Alongside these technical discussions, I also share some practical advice for those seeking SQL Server performance tuning services or training, as well as upcoming events where you can catch me presenting on advanced T-SQL topics.

CHAPTERS

00:00:00 - Introduction
00:01:24 - Financial Priorities and Support
00:02:17 - Columnstore Overview
00:02:51 - Inserting Data into Columnstore
00:03:17 - Row Mode Eager Spool
00:04:07 - Delta Store and Clustered Index
00:05:32 - Tuple Mover Process
00:06:39 - Empty Delta Store
00:08:13 - Conclusion

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