# Using partitioning hints in Spark 3.0.0
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Spark [partitioning hints](https://spark.apache.org/docs/latest/sql-ref-syntax-qry-select-hints.html#partitioning-hints) can help you tune performance and reduce the number of output files. Spark SQL supports partitioning hints, such as `COALESCE`, `REPARTITION`, and `REPARTITION_BY_RANGE`. These hints are similar to the Dataset APIs, such as `coalesce`, `repartition`, and `repartitionByRange`. The following hints help you control the number of output files in Spark SQL, which helps you tune performance:
+ **Coalesce** - Reduce the number of partitions to the specified number of partitions. A partition number is the only parameter of the `COALESCE` hint.
+ **Repartition** - Repartition to the specified number of partitions by using the specified partitioning expressions. The `REPARTITION` hint parameters are a partition number, column names, or both.
+ **Repartition by range** - Repartition to the specified number of partitions by using the specified partitioning expressions. Column names is a required parameter for the `REPARTITION_BY_RANGE` hint, and a partition number is optional.
+ **Rebalance** - Rebalance the query result output partitions so that every partition is a reasonable size. `REBALANCE` hint parameters are an initial partition number, column names, or both or neither.