sys.dm_sql_referencing_entities (Transact-SQL)
Applies to: 
SQL Server
Azure SQL Database
Azure SQL Managed Instance
Returns one row for each entity in the current database that references another user-defined entity by name. A dependency between two entities is created when one entity, called the referenced entity, appears by name in a persisted SQL expression of another entity, called the referencing entity. For example, if a user-defined type (UDT) is specified as the referenced entity, this function returns each user-defined entity that reference that type by name in its definition. The function does not return entities in other databases that may reference the specified entity. This function must be executed in the context of the master database to return a server-level DDL trigger as a referencing entity.
You can use this dynamic management function to report on the following types of entities in the current database that reference the specified entity:
Schema-bound or non-schema-bound entities
Database-level DDL triggers
Server-level DDL triggers
Applies to: SQL Server ( SQL Server 2008 (10.0.x) and later), SQL Database.
Transact-SQL syntax conventions
Syntax
sys.dm_sql_referencing_entities (
' schema_name.referenced_entity_name ' , ' <referenced_class> ' )
<referenced_class> ::=
{
OBJECT
| TYPE
| XML_SCHEMA_COLLECTION
| PARTITION_FUNCTION
}
Arguments
schema_name.referenced_entity_name
Is the name of the referenced entity.
schema_name is required except when the referenced class is PARTITION_FUNCTION.
schema_name.referenced_entity_name is nvarchar(517).
<referenced_class> ::= { OBJECT | TYPE | XML_SCHEMA_COLLECTION | PARTITION_FUNCTION }
Is the class of the referenced entity. Only one class can be specified per statement.
<referenced_class> is nvarchar(60).
Table Returned
| Column name | Data type | Description |
|---|---|---|
| referencing_schema_name | sysname | Schema in which the referencing entity belongs. Is nullable. NULL for database-level and server-level DDL triggers. |
| referencing_entity_name | sysname | Name of the referencing entity. Is not nullable. |
| referencing_id | int | ID of the referencing entity. Is not nullable. |
| referencing_class | tinyint | Class of the referencing entity. Is not nullable. 1 = Object 12 = Database-level DDL trigger 13 = Server-level DDL trigger |
| referencing_class_desc | nvarchar(60) | Description of class of referencing entity. OBJECT DATABASE_DDL_TRIGGER SERVER_DDL_TRIGGER |
| is_caller_dependent | bit | Indicates the resolution of the referenced entity ID occurs at run time because it depends on the schema of the caller. 1 = The referencing entity has the potential to reference the entity; however, resolution of the referenced entity ID is caller dependent and cannot be determined. This occurs only for non-schema-bound references to a stored procedure, extended stored procedure, or user-defined function called in an EXECUTE statement. 0 = Referenced entity is not caller dependent. |
Exceptions
Returns an empty result set under any of the following conditions:
A system object is specified.
The specified entity does not exist in the current database.
The specified entity does not reference any entities.
An invalid parameter is passed.
Returns an error when the specified referenced entity is a numbered stored procedure.
Remarks
The following table lists the types of entities for which dependency information is created and maintained. Dependency information is not created or maintained for rules, defaults, temporary tables, temporary stored procedures, or system objects.
| Entity type | Referencing entity | Referenced entity |
|---|---|---|
| Table | Yes* | Yes |
| View | Yes | Yes |
| Transact-SQL stored procedure** | Yes | Yes |
| CLR stored procedure | No | Yes |
| Transact-SQL user-defined function | Yes | Yes |
| CLR user-defined function | No | Yes |
| CLR trigger (DML and DDL) | No | No |
| Transact-SQL DML trigger | Yes | No |
| Transact-SQL database-level DDL trigger | Yes | No |
| Transact-SQL server-level DDL trigger | Yes | No |
| Extended stored procedures | No | Yes |
| Queue | No | Yes |
| Synonym | No | Yes |
| Type (alias and CLR user-defined type) | No | Yes |
| XML schema collection | No | Yes |
| Partition function | No | Yes |
* A table is tracked as a referencing entity only when it references a Transact-SQL module, user-defined type, or XML schema collection in the definition of a computed column, CHECK constraint, or DEFAULT constraint.
** Numbered stored procedures with an integer value greater than 1 are not tracked as either a referencing or referenced entity.
Permissions
SQL Server 2008 (10.0.x) - SQL Server 2012 (11.x)
Requires CONTROL permission on the referenced object. When the referenced entity is a partition function, CONTROL permission on the database is required.
Requires SELECT permission on sys.dm_sql_referencing_entities. By default, SELECT permission is granted to public.
SQL Server 2014 (12.x) and later
Requires no permissions on the referenced object. Partial results can be returned if the user has VIEW DEFINITION on only some of the referencing entities.
Requires VIEW DEFINITION on the object when the referencing entity is an object.
Requires VIEW DEFINITION on the database when the referencing entity is a database-level DDL trigger.
Requires VIEW ANY DEFINITION on the server when the referencing entity is a server-level DDL trigger.
Examples
A. Returning the entities that refer to a given entity
The following example returns the entities in the current database that refer to the specified table.
USE AdventureWorks2022;
GO
SELECT referencing_schema_name, referencing_entity_name, referencing_id, referencing_class_desc, is_caller_dependent
FROM sys.dm_sql_referencing_entities ('Production.Product', 'OBJECT');
GO
B. Returning the entities that refer to a given type
The following example returns the entities that reference the alias type dbo.Flag. The result set shows that two stored procedures use this type. The dbo.Flag type is also used in the definition of several columns in the HumanResources.Employee table; however, because the type is not in the definition of a computed column, CHECK constraint, or DEFAULT constraint in the table, no rows are returned for the HumanResources.Employee table.
USE AdventureWorks2022;
GO
SELECT referencing_schema_name, referencing_entity_name, referencing_id, referencing_class_desc, is_caller_dependent
FROM sys.dm_sql_referencing_entities ('dbo.Flag', 'TYPE');
GO
Here's the result set.
referencing_schema_name referencing_entity_name referencing_id referencing_class_desc is_caller_dependent
----------------------- ------------------------- ------------- ---------------------- -------------------
HumanResources uspUpdateEmployeeHireInfo 1803153469 OBJECT_OR_COLUMN 0
HumanResources uspUpdateEmployeeLogin 1819153526 OBJECT_OR_COLUMN 0
(2 row(s) affected)`
See Also
sys.dm_sql_referenced_entities (Transact-SQL)
sys.sql_expression_dependencies (Transact-SQL)