View the dependencies of a table

Applies to: SQL Server 2016 (13.x) and later Azure SQL Database Azure SQL Managed Instance Azure Synapse Analytics Analytics Platform System (PDW) SQL database in Microsoft Fabric

You can view a table's dependencies in SQL Server Database Engine, using SQL Server Management Studio or Transact-SQL.

Permissions

Requires VIEW DEFINITION permission on the database and SELECT permission on sys.sql_expression_dependencies for the database. By default, SELECT permission is granted only to members of the db_owner fixed database role. When SELECT and VIEW DEFINITION permissions are granted to another user, the grantee can view all dependencies in the database.

Use SQL Server Management Studio

View the objects on which a table depends

1. In Object Explorer, expand Databases, expand a database, and then expand Tables.

2. Right-click a table, and then select View Dependencies.

3. In the Object Dependencies<object name> dialog box, select either Objects that depend on <object name>, or Objects on which<object name>depends.

4. Select an object in the Dependencies grid. The type of object (such as "Trigger" or "Stored Procedure"), appears in the Type box.

Not

Viewing dependencies using Object Explorer > View Dependencies isn't supported in Azure Synapse Analytics. Instead, use sys.sql_expression_dependencies. Azure Synapse Analytics SQL pools support tables, views, filtered statistics, and Transact-SQL stored procedures entity types from this list. Dependency information is created and maintained for tables, views, and filtered statistics only.

Use Transact-SQL

The code samples in this article use the AdventureWorks2022 or AdventureWorksDW2022 sample database, which you can download from the Microsoft SQL Server Samples and Community Projects home page.

View the table dependencies

1. In Object Explorer, connect to an instance of Database Engine.

2. On the Standard bar, select New Query.

3. Copy and paste the following example into the query window and select Execute.

   SQL

   USE AdventureWorks2022;
   GO
   
   SELECT *
   FROM sys.sql_expression_dependencies
   WHERE referencing_id = OBJECT_ID(N'Production.vProductAndDescription');
   GO
   

View the objects that depend on a table

1. In Object Explorer, connect to an instance of Database Engine.

2. On the Standard bar, select New Query.

3. The following example returns the objects that depend on the table Production.Product. Copy and paste the following example into the query window and select Execute.

   SQL

   USE AdventureWorks2022;
   GO
   
   SELECT *
   FROM sys.sql_expression_dependencies
   WHERE referenced_id = OBJECT_ID(N'Production.Product');
   GO
   

Related content

• sys.sql_expression_dependencies (Transact-SQL)