What is the WordPress `wpdb::$num_queries` property and how does it assist in identifying performance bottlenecks?

Question

WordPress Expert — Hard

What is the WordPress `wpdb::$num_queries` property and how does it assist in identifying performance bottlenecks?

Accepted Answer

The WordPress `wpdb::$num_queries` property tracks the total number of SQL queries executed during the current page load. By enabling query logging with the SAVEQUERIES constant, developers can pinpoint performance issues like N+1 patterns or plugin conflicts generating excessive queries.