@@NESTLEVEL (Transact-SQL)

Article
09/03/2024

Applies to: SQL Server Azure SQL Database Azure SQL Managed Instance

Returns the nesting level of the current stored procedure execution (initially 0) on the local server.

Syntax

@@NESTLEVEL

Return Types

int

Remarks

Each time a stored procedure calls another stored procedure or executes managed code by referencing a common language runtime (CLR) routine, type, or aggregate, the nesting level is incremented. When the maximum of 32 is exceeded, the transaction is terminated.

When @@NESTLEVEL is executed within a Transact-SQL string, the value returned is 1 + the current nesting level. When @@NESTLEVEL is executed dynamically by using sp_executesql the value returned is 2 + the current nesting level.

Examples

A. Using @@NESTLEVEL in a procedure

The following example creates two procedures: one that calls the other, and one that displays the @@NESTLEVEL setting of each.

USE AdventureWorks2022;  
GO  
IF OBJECT_ID (N'usp_OuterProc', N'P')IS NOT NULL  
    DROP PROCEDURE usp_OuterProc;  
GO  
IF OBJECT_ID (N'usp_InnerProc', N'P')IS NOT NULL  
    DROP PROCEDURE usp_InnerProc;  
GO  
CREATE PROCEDURE usp_InnerProc AS   
    SELECT @@NESTLEVEL AS 'Inner Level';  
GO  
CREATE PROCEDURE usp_OuterProc AS   
    SELECT @@NESTLEVEL AS 'Outer Level';  
    EXEC usp_InnerProc;  
GO  
EXECUTE usp_OuterProc;  
GO

Here's the result set.

Outer Level  
-----------  
1  
 
Inner Level  
-----------  
2

B. Calling @@NESTLEVEL

The following example shows the difference in values returned by SELECT, EXEC, and sp_executesql when each of them calls @@NESTLEVEL.

CREATE PROC usp_NestLevelValues AS  
    SELECT @@NESTLEVEL AS 'Current Nest Level';  
EXEC ('SELECT @@NESTLEVEL AS OneGreater');   
EXEC sp_executesql N'SELECT @@NESTLEVEL as TwoGreater' ;  
GO  
EXEC usp_NestLevelValues;  
GO

Here's the result set.

Current Nest Level  
------------------  
1  
 
(1 row(s) affected)  
 
OneGreater  
-----------  
2  
 
(1 row(s) affected)  
 
TwoGreater  
-----------  
3  
 
(1 row(s) affected)

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