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Transact-SQL syntax conventions (Transact-SQL)

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Applies to: SQL Server Azure SQL Database Azure SQL Managed Instance Azure Synapse Analytics Analytics Platform System (PDW) SQL analytics endpoint in Microsoft Fabric Warehouse in Microsoft Fabric

The following table lists and describes conventions that are used in the syntax diagrams in the Transact-SQL reference.

Convention Used for
UPPERCASE or UPPERCASE Transact-SQL keywords.
italic User-supplied parameters of Transact-SQL syntax.
bold Type database names, table names, column names, index names, stored procedures, utilities, data type names, and text exactly as shown.
| (vertical bar) Separates syntax items enclosed in brackets or braces. You can use only one of the items.
[ ] (brackets) Optional syntax item.
{ } (braces) Required syntax items. Don't type the braces.
[ , ...n ] Indicates the preceding item can be repeated n number of times. The occurrences are separated by commas.
[ ...n ] Indicates the preceding item can be repeated n number of times. The occurrences are separated by blanks.
; Transact-SQL statement terminator. Although the semicolon isn't required for most statements in this version of SQL Server, it will be required in a future version.
<label> ::= The name for a block of syntax. Use this convention to group and label sections of lengthy syntax or a unit of syntax that you can use in more than one location within a statement. Each location in which the block of syntax could be used, is indicated with the label enclosed in chevrons: <label>.

A set is a collection of expressions, for example <grouping set>; and a list is a collection of sets, for example <composite element list>.

Multipart names

Unless specified otherwise, all Transact-SQL references to the name of a database object can be a four-part name in the following form:

<server_name>.[<database_name>].[<schema_name>].<object_name>

| <database_name>.[<schema_name>].<object_name>

| <schema_name>.<object_name>

| <object_name>

  • server_name

    Specifies a linked server name or remote server name.

  • database_name

    Specifies the name of a SQL Server database when the object resides in a local instance of SQL Server. When the object is in a linked server, database_name specifies an OLE DB catalog.

  • schema_name

    Specifies the name of the schema that contains the object if the object is in a SQL Server database. When the object is in a linked server, schema_name specifies an OLE DB schema name.

  • object_name

    Refers to the name of the object.

When referencing a specific object, you don't always have to specify the server, database, and schema for the SQL Server Database Engine to identify the object. However, if the object can't be found, an error is returned.

To avoid name resolution errors, we recommend specifying the schema name whenever you specify a schema-scoped object.

To omit intermediate nodes, use periods to indicate these positions. The following table shows the valid formats of object names.

Object reference format Description
<server_name>.<database_name>.<schema_name>.<object_name> Four-part name.
<server_name>.<database_name>..<object_name> Schema name is omitted.
<server_name>..<schema_name>.<object_name> Database name is omitted.
<server_name>...<object_name> Database and schema name are omitted.
<database_name>.<schema_name>.<object_name> Server name is omitted.
<database_name>..<object_name> Server and schema name are omitted.
<schema_name>.<object_name> Server and database name are omitted.
<object_name> Server, database, and schema name are omitted.

Data types

When used inline in an article, data types are rendered in lowercase and bold. For example, int, varchar(255), and bit.

When used in Transact-SQL code blocks, data types are rendered in uppercase. For example:

DECLARE @int_example AS INT;
DECLARE @varchar_example AS VARCHAR(255);
DECLARE @bit_example AS BIT;

Code example conventions

Unless stated otherwise, the examples provided in the Transact-SQL reference were tested by using SQL Server Management Studio and its default settings for the following options:

  • ANSI_NULLS
  • ANSI_NULL_DFLT_ON
  • ANSI_PADDING
  • ANSI_WARNINGS
  • CONCAT_NULL_YIELDS_NULL
  • QUOTED_IDENTIFIER

Most code examples in the Transact-SQL reference were tested on servers that are running a case-sensitive sort order. The test servers were typically running the ANSI/ISO 1252 code page.

Many code examples prefix Unicode character string constants with the letter N. Without the N prefix, the string is converted to the default code page of the database. This default code page might not recognize certain characters.

"Applies to" references

The Transact-SQL reference articles encompass multiple versions of SQL Server, starting with SQL Server 2008 (10.0.x), as well as Azure SQL Database, Azure SQL Managed Instance, Azure Synapse Analytics, and Analytics Platform System (PDW).

A section near the top of each article indicates which products support the article's subject. If a product is omitted, then the feature described by the article isn't available in that product.

The general subject of the article might be used in a product, but all of the arguments aren't supported in some cases. For example, contained database users were introduced in SQL Server 2012 (11.x). Use the CREATE USER statement in any SQL Server product; however the WITH PASSWORD syntax can't be used with older versions. Extra Applies to sections are inserted into the appropriate argument descriptions in the body of the article.

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