How to Describe a Table in SQL Server

There are 3 methods through which we can describe a table in SQL Server:

  1. Using sp_help
  2. Using sp_columns
  3. Using INFORMATION_SCHEMA Views

Let’s set up an environment

To understand how we can get the describe a table SQL Server, we will consider the table Customer as shown below:

CustomerID

CustomerName

City

State

Age

1

Rohit Kumar

Kolkata

West Bengal

31

2

Kavya Mehra

Delhi

Delhi

34

3

Amit Singh

Bangalore

Karnataka

25

4

Anjali Singh

Mumbai

Maharashtra

28

SQL Server Describe Table

SQL Server is a widely used Relational Database Management System (RDBMS) that allows users to create and manage databases effectively. When working with databases in SQL Server it is essential to understand the schema of the tables present in the database. Describing a table means getting information about the structure and metadata of the table. In this article, we will learn how to describe a table in SQL Server.

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How to Describe a Table in SQL Server

There are 3 methods through which we can describe a table in SQL Server:...

1. Usign sp_help to Describe a Table in SQL Server

The sp_help is a system stored procedure provided by the SQL Server, which is a built-in utility that provides a detailed description of a table or a view in SQL Server. Following is the syntax to use sp_help procedure:...

2. Usign sp_columns to Describe a Table in SQL Server

The sp_columns is another system stored procedure provided by the SQL Server which can be used to describe a table. The sp_columns system procedures returns all the details about all of the columns present in a table . Following is the syntax to use sp_columns in SQL Server:...

3. Using INFORMATION_SCHEMA Views to Describe a Table in SQL Server

To describe a table in SQL Server we can use the INFORMATION_SCHEMA view, which is a standard view provided by the SQL Server Management Studio belongs to the INFORMATION_SCHEMA database which is a special kind of database that stores the metadata of the databases, tables, columns, and other objects stored in the system. Following is the syntax to use INFORMATION_SCHEMA views to describe a table in SQL Server:...

Conclusion

In conclusion, SQL Server provides efficient tools for database management, including the ability to describe tables. Using sp_help, or sp_columns or using the INFORMATION_SCHEMA Views users can easily describe the table in their SQL Server databases and help in effective database administration and development....

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