How would you make it easier to identify which EF Core query caused a slow database call in production?

Use EF Core query tags and correlation for production debugging

Explains how query tags, request correlation, and telemetry help connect slow SQL back to code paths.

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I would make database calls traceable from the request. The API needs a correlation id in logs and telemetry, and important EF Core queries can use query tags so the generated SQL identifies the code path or endpoint. Then a slow dependency call can be connected back to the request, user action, and controller or handler. That shortens the path from symptom to owner.

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Query tags, correlation ids, structured logs, Application Insights, endpoint ownership, and safe telemetry.

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A slow query in a database dashboard is only useful if the team can connect it back to the endpoint and code path. EF Core query tagging is one practical tool in that chain.
I would make database calls traceable from the request. The API needs a correlation id in logs and telemetry, and important EF Core queries can use query tags so the generated SQL identifies the code path or endpoint. Then a slow dependency call can be connected back to the request, user action, and controller or handler. That shortens the path from symptom to owner.
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I would use tags carefully. A tag like Orders/List/SearchPage is useful because it names a stable code path, while tags with user input or high-cardinality values create noisy telemetry and possible data exposure. I would combine tags with structured logs for duration, row count where available, endpoint, tenant, and result size. For repeated slow queries, I would review the generated SQL and plan instead of stopping at the tag.

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Tagging queries with user input or sensitive values.
Turning on verbose SQL logging globally and leaving it on.
Collecting database telemetry without request correlation.
Stopping at the tag without checking query shape and plan.

How would you make it easier to identify which EF Core query caused a slow database call in production?

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