# Optimizer Hints

Optimizer hints are options available that affect the execution plan.

[SELECT Modifiers](/docs/server/ha-and-performance/optimization-and-tuning/optimizer-hints/select-modifier-hints.md) have been in MariaDB for a long time, while [Expanded (New-Style) Optimizer Hints](/docs/server/ha-and-performance/optimization-and-tuning/optimizer-hints/expanded-optimizer-hints.md) were introduced in MariaDB 12.0 and 12.1.

## See Also

* [Use optimizer\_switch to enable/disable specific optimizations](/docs/server/ha-and-performance/optimization-and-tuning/query-optimizations/optimizer-switch.md)

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