The execution plan cache in SQL Server is a treasure trove of information about queries that have recently executed. In addition to query text and execution plan details, a wide variety of statistics, options, and parameters are available to research, if needed. This information may not always be needed for troubleshooting a performance challenge, but when it is, knowing where to go and how to use it can be a massive time saver.
In this article, the attributes stored in the plan cache will be explored and structured into an easily consumable format. This can assist in researching unusual query behavior,