Sample Table Scans in Oracle

•A sample table scan retrieves a random sample of data from a simple table or a complex SELECT statement, such as a statement involving joins and views.

•This access path is used when a statement's FROM clause includes the SAMPLE clause or the SAMPLE BLOCK clause.

•To perform a sample table scan when sampling by rows with the SAMPLE clause, Oracle reads a specified percentage of rows in the table.

•To perform a sample table scan when sampling by blocks with the SAMPLE BLOCK clause, Oracle reads a specified percentage of table blocks.

Example:
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SQL> select * from test_skip_scan sample(.2);
20 rows selected.


Execution Plan
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Plan hash value: 571935661

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| Id | Operation | Name | Rows | Bytes | Cost (%CPU)| Time |
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| 0 | SELECT STATEMENT | | 20 | 180 | 6 (0)| 00:00:01 |
| 1 | TABLE ACCESS SAMPLE| TEST_SKIP_SCAN | 20 | 180 | 6 (0)| 00:00:01 |