Wait Type PAGELATCH_EX

The wait type PAGELATCH_EX is ranked #36 by Stedman Solutions and Database Health Monitor.

Wait statistics, in the context of SQL Server, refer to the amount of time that a query spends waiting to access data in the database. When a client application requests data from the database, the request is placed in a queue and the client application must wait for its turn to access the data. The time that the query spends waiting is called a "wait" and is tracked by SQL Server. This information can be used to identify potential performance bottlenecks and optimize the performance of the database. Wait statistics are commonly used by database administrators to diagnose and troubleshoot performance issues in SQL Server.


The PAGELATCH_EX wait type in SQL Server occurs when a session is waiting to acquire an exclusive latch on a database page. Latch is a lightweight synchronization mechanism that is used to protect shared data structures in SQL Servers memory.

Exclusive latches are used to protect resources that can be accessed by only one session at a time. When a session wants to update a page in the database, it needs to acquire an exclusive latch on the page in order to prevent other sessions from modifying it at the same time.

If a session tries to acquire an exclusive latch on a page but is unable to do so because the page is already latched by another session, the session will enter a PAGELATCH_EX wait state. This means that the session will be paused until the latch is released by the other session and becomes available for the waiting session to acquire.

PAGELATCH_EX wait types can be caused by a variety of factors, including high concurrency and resource contention in the database. To address PAGELATCH_EX waits, it is important to identify the specific pages that are causing the waits and to optimize the database design and queries to reduce contention for those pages. This may involve indexing strategies, query optimization, and other techniques to improve the performance of the database.

Overall, PAGELATCH_EX wait types are an important aspect of SQL Server performance, and understanding and addressing them can help improve the efficiency and scalability of a database.

Applies to

Related Waits

PAGELATCH_DT
PAGELATCH_KP
PAGELATCH_NL
PAGELATCH_SH
PAGELATCH_UP

See Also


All Wait Types