Probably yes,
It looks like comment - it informs database how process query
for ex.
SELECT /*+ LEADING(e2 e1) USE_NL(e1) INDEX(e1 emp_emp_id_pk)
USE_MERGE(j) FULL(j) */
e1.first_name, e1.last_name, j.job_id, sum(e2.salary) total_sal
FROM employees e1, employees e2, job_history j
WHERE e1.employee_id = e2.manager_id
AND e1.employee_id = j.employee_id
AND e1.hire_date = j.start_date
GROUP BY e1.first_name, e1.last_name, j.job_id
ORDER BY total_sal;
LEADING - about join order
USE_NL - use nested loops algorithm for ....
INDEX - use index ......
USE_MERGE - merge join algorithm
FULL(j) - full table scan of j
