# Execution Plan (CSEP)

## Overview

The ColumnStore storage engine uses a ColumnStore Execution Plan (CSEP) to represent a query plan internally.

When the select handler receives the `SELECT_LEX` object, it transforms it into a CSEP as part of the query planning and optimization process. For additional information, see "[MariaDB Enterprise ColumnStore Query Evaluation](/docs/analytics/mariadb-columnstore/architecture/mariadb-enterprise-columnstore-query-evaluation.md)."

## Viewing the CSEP

The CSEP for a given query can be viewed by performing the following:

1. Calling the `calSetTrace(1)` function:

```sql
SELECT calSetTrace(1);
```

2. Executing the query:

```sql
SELECT column1, column2
FROM columnstore_tab
WHERE column1 > '2020-04-01'
AND column1 < '2020-11-01';
```

3. Calling the `calGetTrace()` function:

```sql
SELECT calGetTrace();
```

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