• How would you optimize a slow-running SQL query?

  • How do you handle deadlocks in production systems?

  • How would you design a database for an e-commerce application?

  • How do you migrate data between two DBMSs?

  • How do you handle database downtime during peak hours?

  • How do you ensure data consistency in a distributed system?

  • How would you manage rapid data growth?

  • How do you troubleshoot sporadic performance issues?

  • How do you design for high read-heavy workloads?

  • How do you investigate data inconsistency issues?

  • How do you secure sensitive data in a multi-user database?

  • What steps do you follow before deploying a database to production?

  • How do you handle schema changes in live systems?

  • How do you balance normalization and performance?

  • How do you plan backup and recovery for critical systems?