Microsoft® SQL Server 2012 Unleashed

Execution Plan ToolTips

When a graphical execution plan is presented in the Query Analyzer, you can get more information about each node in the execution plan by moving the mouse cursor over one of the icons. ToolTips for estimated execution plans are slightly different from the ToolTips displayed for an execution plan that is generated when a query is actually executed. The ToolTip displayed for an estimated execution plan provides the following information:

Physical Operation—Lists the physical operation being performed for the node, such as a Clustered Index Scan, Index Seek, Aggregate, Hash or Nested Loop Join, and so on.

Logical Operation ...