Apparatus and method for refreshing a database query

Previously-optimized database queries are stored in memory. When a new query needs to be optimized, the previously-optimized queries are examined to determine whether the new query has been previously optimized. If the new query has not been previously optimized, the previously-optimized queries are examined to determine whether any previously-optimized queries differ only in data type of one or more operands when compared to the new query. If a previously-optimized query that differs only in data type is located, the previously-optimized query is refreshed to reflect the different data type without the need of optimizing the new query from scratch. Portions of previously-optimized queries may thus be re-used even when a previously-optimized query is not identical to a new query to be optimized. As a result, the performance of query optimization in a database system is increased.