SOS_SCHEDULER_YIELD is a common wait type which often puzzles DBAs. It does not necessarily mean something is "problematic", rather it tells that SQL Server workers are voluntarily yielding the CPU to let other threads run. However, when this wait becomes dominant, it is usually a signal that the CPU is under pressure or certain queries are consuming more CPU cycles than they should.
In this guide, we will walk through what SOS_SCHEDULER_YIELD means, why it occurs, how to identify the queries contributing to it, and practical steps to mitigate CPU contention in your SQL Server environment. Let's start.
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