Description: Table statistics are a set of data that provide information about the distribution of data in a table within a database. These statistics are essential for the query optimizer, as they allow it to estimate the cost of different execution plans and select the most efficient one. They include details such as the number of rows, the number of distinct values in each column, the distribution of those values, and the presence of null values. By having a clear view of how the data is organized, the optimizer can make informed decisions about how to access it, resulting in improved query performance. In database systems, table statistics are crucial for optimizing the performance of analytical queries, as they enable users to obtain faster and more efficient results when working with large volumes of data. Without these statistics, the optimizer might make incorrect assumptions about the distribution of data, leading to suboptimal execution plans and longer response times.
