Dataford
Interview QuestionsInterview GuidesExperiencesCoaching
New
Pricing
Get started
Dataford
Popular roles
Software EngineerData AnalystData ScientistData EngineerBusiness AnalystAI EngineerMachine Learning EngineerProduct Manager
Browse
Browse All RolesEvery role hub, from analyst to MLBrowse All CompaniesCompany-specific interview loopsAll Interview GuidesThe full guide library
Top questions by role
Software EngineerData AnalystData ScientistData EngineerBusiness AnalystAI EngineerMachine Learning EngineerProduct Manager
Top questions by skill
SQLPythonStatisticsMachine LearningA/B TestingSystem DesignGenerative AIProduct SenseMetricsBehavioral
Browse all questions →Try a mock interview
Experiences
Practice
Mock InterviewsTimed interview simulations with feedbackCoaching1:1 coaching with people at your target companiesSuccess PathYour 6-week structured planModulesCurated lessons by topicWebinarsTalks from ex-Big Tech data leadsPlaygroundA free-form scratch editor
Learn
BlogInterview strategy and career adviceTech Job Market ReportHiring trends across data and AI rolesFor UniversitiesDataford for career centersAbout DatafordWho we are and how we build
Pricing
Build my plan
Complex Joins and Window Performance
00:00
5 left

Complex Joins and Window Performance

HardSQL · PostgreSQL

Problem

Optimize a slow SQL query involving complex joins and window functions, and explain how you would improve performance.

Use the provided PostgreSQL schema to produce the requested result and demonstrate an optimized query structure. Explain how you would validate the improvement with execution plans, indexing, filtering, and join reduction.

Output

  1. One row per customer, product category, and reporting month for qualifying orders.
  2. Columns: customer_id, customer_name, category, reporting_month, revenue, prior_period_revenue, and revenue_change.
  3. Include completed orders from January through March 2025, exclude rows without a customer or category, and order by customer, category, and month.

Schema

customers
ColumnTypeDescription
customer_idPKINTUnique customer identifier
customer_nameVARCHAR(100)Customer display name
regionVARCHAR(50)Customer geographic region
orders
ColumnTypeDescription
order_idPKINTUnique order identifier
customer_idINTCustomer who placed the order
order_dateDATEDate the order was placed
statusVARCHAR(20)Order lifecycle status
order_items
ColumnTypeDescription
order_item_idPKINTUnique order-line identifier
order_idINTParent order identifier
product_idINTReferenced product identifier
quantityINTNumber of units ordered
unit_priceNUMERIC(10,2)Price per unit
products
ColumnTypeDescription
product_idPKINTUnique product identifier
product_nameVARCHAR(100)Product name
categoryVARCHAR(50)Product category
Tablescustomersordersorder_itemsproducts
Interviewer

Your question is Complex Joins and Window Performance. Start with the requirements and the four tables in the Question tab.

Run and submit as often as you like. When you're ready, talk me through your approach or go straight to the code.

You need to log in / sign up to run or submit.
CodePostgreSQL
Sign up free to run your codeLog inLn 1
Run your query to see results here.