Fragmentation, FILLFACTOR and page splits in SQL Server

Overview

Fragmentation and page density are different metrics. A page split can lower density and affect reads; reducing FILLFACTOR reserves space during creation/rebuild but also increases page count and reading cost. Zero and 100 have the same documented meaning. Microsoft recommends maintenance decisions based on workload/resource impact rather than a single fixed threshold. This SELECT only inspects configured fill factor for rowstore indexes on fictional ED_TEST; it neither measures current fragmentation nor rebuilds indexes. Metadata visibility depends on permissions. (MICROSOFT, 2026, refs. 1–3)

Commented example

-- Owned test-table metadata only; not executed.
SELECT name, fill_factor
FROM sys.indexes
WHERE object_id = OBJECT_ID(N'dbo.ED_TEST')
  AND type IN (1, 2);

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