Answer: Use the EXPLAIN function.

The EXPLAIN function is the correct answer because it compiles the SQL statement to show the query execution plan without executing the query, thus not requiring a running virtual warehouse or consuming compute credits. This is explicitly stated in Snowflake documentation and supported by the community discussion, where multiple comments with upvotes confirm that EXPLAIN does not need a warehouse. Option B (Query Profile) is incorrect because it requires query execution and thus consumes compute resources. Option C (Account_Usage view) also requires query execution to populate the data. Option D (Snowsight dashboard) may show execution plans but relies on executed queries. The community consensus strongly favors A, with 80% of answers selecting it.

Author: LeetQuiz Editorial Team