Intelligent Query Processing (IQP) is a family of features that aim to optimize query performance by automatically adapting to the data and workload characteristics. IQP features can have a broad impact on improving the performance of existing workloads with minimal implementation effort. However, IQP is not a single feature, but a collection of features that have evolved over time.

In this session, we will walk through the history of the IQP family and how these features can help you solve common performance problems. We will begin with Adaptive Query Processing features that were introduced in SQL Server 2017, such as adaptive joins, memory grant feedback, and interleaved execution. Then, we will step through the new features of both SQL Server 2019 and 2022. Finally, we will discuss best practices for managing and configuring IQP features through compatibility levels and database scoped configurations.