ClickHouse Release 26.4

The ClickHouse 26.4 release introduces numerous enhancements, including 39 new features, 45 performance optimizations, and 238 bug fixes, furthering its SQL compatibility and improving various functionalities. Notable improvements include a faster COUNT DISTINCT operation, a more user-friendly EXPLAIN function, and enhanced SQL features such as the VALUES table expression, EXTRACT operator with PostgreSQL-style units, and SET TIME ZONE. The release also highlights an optimized LIKE query using text indexing, leading to significant performance gains by employing an inverted index to reduce full-table scans, and the addition of JSONAllValues to improve filtering on JSON subcolumns through text indexing. The community has welcomed new contributors, and users are encouraged to explore these updates and get started with ClickHouse Cloud, which offers a $300 credit for new users.