Which tools can you use to monitor the response time of individual SQL queries?

The SQL Trace tool is utilized to monitor the response time of individual SQL queries effectively. It captures all SQL statements executed against the database, along with additional details such as execution times, which allow you to analyze performance on a granular level. By tracking these metrics, users can identify slow-running queries and bottlenecks in the database.

Using SQL Trace, administrators can enable or disable tracing dynamically, filter results based on various criteria, and examine the execution characteristics of queries over a specific time frame. This makes it an essential tool for database tuning and performance optimization.

In contrast, while the SQL plan cache stores execution plans for queries, it does not provide direct metrics on response times but rather helps in reusing previously executed query plans. The SQL Profiler differs in that it is more comprehensive for monitoring overall SQL Server workload rather than focusing solely on individual query response times. The Query Optimizer is responsible for determining the most efficient execution plan for given SQL statements, but it does not track execution times after the plan has been generated. Thus, SQL Trace stands out as the primary tool for monitoring and analyzing the response times of SQL queries directly.