Views (Database Engine)

A view can be thought of as either a virtual table or a stored query. Unless a view is indexed, its data is not stored in the database as a distinct object. What is stored in the database is a SELECT statement. The result set of the SELECT statement forms the virtual table returned by the view. A user can use this virtual table by referencing the view name in Transact-SQL statements the same way a table is referenced.

This section provides the information necessary to understand, design, and create views.

Topic	Description
Understanding Views	Explains view concepts, types of views, and scenarios for using views, with examples.
Designing and Implementing Views	Provides specific guidelines for designing standard, indexed, and partitioned views, with links to the necessary topics for creating views.
Modifying Views	Describes the procedures and provides the necessary links for modifying the definition of a view, modifying data through a view, and deleting a view.