---
title: Understand query patterns
description: Discover and identify performance issues with efficient query patterns to filter records, build dynamic queries, and optimize application performance across tables and modules within the ServiceNow instances.
locale: en-US
canonical_url: https://www.servicenow.com/docs/r/impact/io-query-patterns-vid-tut.html
release: brazil
topic_type: task
last_updated: "2026-09-10"
reading_time_minutes: 1
keywords: [query patterns, filtering records, dynamic queries, ServiceNow scripting, GlideRecord]
breadcrumb: [IO analytics, Monitor instance performance, Platform Health, Using Impact, Impact]
---

# Understand query patterns

Discover and identify performance issues with efficient query patterns to filter records, build dynamic queries, and optimize application performance across tables and modules within the ServiceNow instances.

## Before you begin

Role required: admin

## About this task

This query pattern model is a tool that is geared for discovering and identifying performance issues. It works best in below-an-hour range periods, ideally between 15 to an hour range, where you get better results around an event or a performance. So, it will pick up substantial performance issues and is useful in identifying the query pattern that is impacting the instance as a whole. The **Date Range** in this instance shows a Last 24-hour window:

## Procedure

1.  Navigate to **All** > **Impact** > **Platform Health** > **Monitor**.

2.  Log in to I**Instance Observer** and navigate to **Analytics** > **Query Patterns**.

3.  Analyze and compare your query patterns.

    The **Summary** tab displays the pie charts:

    -   Top 20 by Total Volume
    -   Top 20 by Execution Time
    -   Top 20% increase in Total Execution Time compared to previous week
    \[Omitted image "io-query-pattern-sql.png"\] Alt text: Instance Observer query patterns.

4.  Select the **Menu** list and select each of the options to view the details in the instance.

5.  Select the **Detailed** tab to display the breakdown details.

    By default all URLs or labels are sorted by **Total Execution Time**. However, you can sort them by:

    -   Total Count
    -   Count Increase: Queries that have a high volume increase during that time frame.
    -   Total Execution Time Increase
    -   Average execution time
    -   Average execution time Increase
    -   First Sighted
    \[Omitted image "io-query-pattern-exe.png"\] Alt text: Detailed view of query patterns.

6.  Select the URL to view the **Avg Exe Time** and **Total Count** readings on the right pane.

7.  Select the **Transactions** list to view the **Active Transactions**, **Client Transactions**, **Background Transactions**, and **Slow Transactions**.

8.  Select the **Hash Code** link that takes you to the instance where you can view the slow queries model.


**Parent Topic:**[IO analytics](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/brazil/markdown/impact/io-analytics.md)