What is the difference between EXPLAIN and EXPLAIN ANALYZE? Why should EXPLAIN ANALYZE not be used in production?

The EXPLAIN command in SQL is used to obtain the execution plan of a query, showing how the database management system (DBMS) intends to execute the query, which indexes will be used, the order of operations, etc. However, EXPLAIN does not execute the query itself; it only constructs and displays the plan.

EXPLAIN ANALYZE, unlike EXPLAIN, not only constructs the plan but also executes the query, collecting real statistics on execution time for each operation, number of rows processed, etc. This provides more accurate information about performance.

Why you should not use EXPLAIN ANALYZE in production:

• The query is actually executed, which can lead to load on the database, especially if the query is heavy.
• It may modify data if the query is a modifying one (INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE).
• Execution time increases due to the collection of statistics.

Therefore, EXPLAIN ANALYZE is usually used in testing environments or on data copies to avoid affecting production operations.