Understanding When to Use OPTIMIZE_FOR_SEQUENTIAL_KEY in SQL Server
Arthur Petit
4 February 2025
Understanding When to Use OPTIMIZE_FOR_SEQUENTIAL_KEY in SQL Server

Database performance can be greatly impacted by knowing when to enable OPTIMIZE_FOR_SEQUENTIAL_KEY in SQL Server, particularly in high-concurrency scenarios. When adding large amounts of data, this setting increases efficiency by reducing contention on the last added page of a index. Enabling this feature guarantees consistent and seamless database operations in e-commerce scenarios where orders are handled asynchronously. High-traffic applications may encounter performance bottlenecks without adequate optimization, which could result in slower transactions and higher resource use. A responsive and scalable database can be maintained by putting the proper indexing method into practice and using other tuning approaches.