SQL Server performance features: (1) Columnstore indexes: 10x faster for analytics (columnar storage, batch mode), use for data warehouses. (2) Window functions: Efficient pagination with ROW_NUMBER(), better than subqueries. (3) Query Store: Tracks query performance, identifies regressions, force plans. (4) In-Memory OLTP: Memory-optimized tables for high-throughput OLTP. (5) Always On: Readable secondaries for read scaling, offload reporting queries. Real-world: Power BI uses columnstore for dashboards. Stack Overflow uses window functions for pagination. Healthcare systems use Always On for high availability.

Columnstore indexes: 10x faster for analytics, use for data warehouses

Window functions: Efficient pagination, better than subqueries

Keyset pagination: Fastest for large datasets, no offset needed

Query Store: Monitor performance, force plans, identify regressions

Readable secondaries: Offload read queries to Always On secondaries

In-Memory OLTP: Memory-optimized tables for high-throughput OLTP

Batch mode execution: Columnstore processes 900 rows at once

Using LIMIT instead of TOP: Syntax error, use TOP in SQL Server

Not using columnstore for analytics: 10x slower without columnstore

Large OFFSET values: Slow for large offsets, use keyset pagination

Not using temporal tables for audit: Manual triggers complex, use temporal

Licensing costs: SQL Server expensive, consider Azure SQL for lower cost