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sys.dm_db_missing_index_columns

Returns information about database table columns that are missing an index. sys.dm_db_missing_index_columns is a dynamic management function.

Syntax

sys.dm_db_missing_index_columns(index_handle)

Arguments

Table Returned

Column name

Data type

Description

column_id

int

ID of the column.

column_name

sysname

Name of the table column.

column_usage

varchar(20)

How the column is used by the query. Possible values are:

Value

Description

EQUALITYColumn contributes to a predicate that expresses equality, of the form: table.column = constant_value

INEQUALITYColumn contributes to a predicate that expresses inequality, for example, a predicate of the form: table.column > constant_value Any comparison operator other than "=" expresses inequality. For a complete list of comparison operators, see Comparison Operators (Database Engine).

INCLUDEColumn is not used to evaluate a predicate, but is used for another reason, for example, to cover a query.

Remarks

Information returned by sys.dm_db_missing_index_columns is updated when a query is optimized by the query optimizer, and is not persisted. Missing index information is kept only until SQL Server is restarted. Database administrators should periodically make backup copies of the missing index information if they want to keep it after server recycling.

For information about enabling and disabling missing index information collection, see About the Missing Indexes Feature.

The output from the sys.dm_db_missing_index_columns dynamic management function can be used by any tool that can read the missing index information that corresponds to an index_handle, process the information, and convert it into CREATE INDEX DDL statements that implement the missing index. For more information about creating DDL statements, see Using Missing Index Information to Write CREATE INDEX Statements.

For more information about limitations of this feature, see Limitations for Using the Missing Indexes Feature.

Transaction Consistency

If a transaction creates or drops a table, the rows containing missing index information about the dropped objects are removed from this dynamic management object, preserving transaction consistency. For more information about transaction consistency in relation to the missing indexes dynamic management objects, see About the Missing Indexes Feature.

Permissions

Users must be granted the VIEW SERVER STATE permission or any permission that implies the VIEW SERVER STATE permission to query this dynamic management function.

Examples

The following example runs a query against the Address table and then runs a query using the sys.dm_db_missing_index_columns dynamic management view to return the table columns that are missing an index.

USE AdventureWorks;
GO
SELECT City, StateProvinceID, PostalCode
FROM Person.Address
WHERE StateProvinceID = 9;
GO
SELECT mig.*, statement AS table_name,
    column_id, column_name, column_usage
FROM sys.dm_db_missing_index_details AS mid
CROSS APPLY sys.dm_db_missing_index_columns (mid.index_handle)
INNER JOIN sys.dm_db_missing_index_groups AS mig ON mig.index_handle = mid.index_handle
ORDER BY mig.index_group_handle, mig.index_handle, column_id;
GO

See Also

Reference

sys.dm_db_missing_index_details
sys.dm_db_missing_index_groups
sys.dm_db_missing_index_group_stats

Other Resources

About the Missing Indexes Feature

Help and Information

Getting SQL Server 2005 Assistance

Change History

Release History

12 December 2006

New content:
  • Added the Examples section.
Changed content:
  • Corrected the definition of column_id.