TeraTeam UK Teradata DBA Definition
Optimizer:
A component of the Parsing Engine. The optimizer develops the least expensive plan to return the requested response set. Processing alternatives are evaluated and the fastest alternative is chosen. This alternative is converted to executable steps, to be performed by the AMPs, which are then passed to the dispatcher.
The optimzer bases it plan to a large extent on statistics. If these are missing or out of date, it can therefore result in performance issues such as skewing.
