How to View Execution Plan in ParadeDB

How do I view and interpret an execution plan in ParadeDB?

EXPLAIN in ParadeDB reveals the execution plan PostgreSQL will use to run your query, helping you diagnose and optimize performance.

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Description

Example H2

Example H3

Why should I inspect an execution plan?

Inspection shows how ParadeDB scans tables, uses indexes, joins data, and estimates costs, letting you remove bottlenecks before they hurt users.

How do I generate an execution plan?

Prepend EXPLAIN or EXPLAIN ANALYZE to any SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE, or DELETE. The first shows estimates; the second runs the query and adds actual timing and row counts.

What output formats are available?

Add FORMAT to target TEXT (default), JSON, YAML, or XML. JSON is easiest to parse in CI pipelines.

How do I read the plan?

Start at the deepest node; ParadeDB executes children first. Check cost, rows, and width. Large gaps between estimated and actual rows signal stale statistics.

When should I rely on EXPLAIN ANALYZE?

Use it only on read-only replicas or when write impact is acceptable. It runs the query, so UPDATEs and DELETEs will modify data unless you wrap them in a rollback-bound transaction.

How can I speed up slow scans?

Create indexes on filter columns, avoid SELECT *, and ensure appropriate JOIN order. Use ANALYZE to refresh statistics after bulk loads.

Best practice: store plans

Save JSON plans in a version-controlled folder so you can compare changes over commits and catch regressions early.

Why How to View Execution Plan in ParadeDB is important

How to View Execution Plan in ParadeDB Example Usage


-- Find top 5 products by revenue and inspect the plan
EXPLAIN (ANALYZE, BUFFERS)
SELECT p.name, SUM(oi.quantity) AS units_sold, SUM(oi.quantity * p.price) AS revenue
FROM Products p
JOIN OrderItems oi ON oi.product_id = p.id
GROUP BY p.name
ORDER BY revenue DESC
LIMIT 5;

How to View Execution Plan in ParadeDB Syntax


EXPLAIN [ ( option [, ...] ) ] statement

Options:
  ANALYZE [ boolean ]       -- execute and measure
  VERBOSE [ boolean ]       -- include extra detail
  COSTS [ boolean ]         -- show planner costs
  BUFFERS [ boolean ]       -- show buffer usage (needs ANALYZE)
  FORMAT { TEXT | XML | JSON | YAML }

Example in ecommerce context:
EXPLAIN (ANALYZE, BUFFERS, FORMAT JSON)
SELECT c.name, SUM(oi.quantity * p.price) AS lifetime_value
FROM Customers c
JOIN Orders o   ON o.customer_id = c.id
JOIN OrderItems oi ON oi.order_id = o.id
JOIN Products p ON p.id = oi.product_id
GROUP BY c.name
ORDER BY lifetime_value DESC
LIMIT 10;

Common Mistakes

Running EXPLAIN ANALYZE on production write queries. It executes the statement and can mutate data. Fix by testing on replicas or wrapping writes in a rolled-back transaction.
Ignoring discrepancies between estimated and actual rows. Big gaps usually mean outdated statistics. Fix by running ANALYZE or more targeted VACUUM ANALYZE.