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)
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
In Object Explorer, expand Databases, expand a database, and then expand Tables.
Right-click a table, and then select View Dependencies.
In the Object Dependencies<object name> dialog box, select either Objects that depend on <object name>, or Objects on which<object name>depends.
Select an object in the Dependencies grid. The type of object (such as "Trigger" or "Stored Procedure"), appears in the Type box.
Note
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 Transact-SQL 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
In Object Explorer, connect to an instance of Database Engine.
On the Standard bar, select New Query.
Copy and paste the following example into the query window and select Execute.
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
In Object Explorer, connect to an instance of Database Engine.
On the Standard bar, select New Query.
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.USE AdventureWorks2022; GO SELECT * FROM sys.sql_expression_dependencies WHERE referenced_id = OBJECT_ID(N'Production.Product'); GO