EXPLAIN EXTENDED followed by SHOW WARNINGS shows a transformed version of the original SQL statement. The transformed version sometimes includes special markers that are not legal SQL, and whose meaning is not always clear. Example: mysql> explain extended select * from t where t.a in (select b from t); +----+--------------------+-------+-------+---------------+---------+---------+- -----+------+----------+--------------------------+ | id | select_type | table | type | possible_keys | key | key_len | ref | rows | filtered | Extra | +----+--------------------+-------+-------+---------------+---------+---------+- -----+------+----------+--------------------------+ | 1 | PRIMARY | t | index | NULL | PRIMARY | 8 | NULL | 4 | 100.00 | Using where; Using index | | 2 | DEPENDENT SUBQUERY | t | index | NULL | PRIMARY | 8 | NULL | 4 | 100.00 | Using where; Using index | +----+--------------------+-------+-------+---------------+---------+---------+- -----+------+----------+--------------------------+ 2 rows in set, 1 warning (0.00 sec) mysql> show warnings\G *************************** 1. row *************************** Level: Note Code: 1003 Message: select `test`.`t`.`a` AS `a`,`test`.`t`.`b` AS `b` from `test`.`t` where <in_optimizer>(`test`.`t`.`a`,<exists>(select 1 AS `Not_used` from `test`.`t` where (<cache>(`test`.`t`.`a`) = `test`.`t`.`b`))) 1 row in set (0.00 sec) Here, <in optimizer>, <exists>, and <cache> are special constructs. The purpose of this task is to list all such such constructs and explain their meaning. This will likely require the help of someone from the optimizer team. Related bugs: BUG#29998, BUG#31430, BUG#48134, BUG#63575 Related worklogs: WL#4897
