How to Use INFORMATION_SCHEMA Views in SQL Server: A Comprehensive Guide
- Name
- Rajiv Chandra
Published on
As a data scientist, you may find it challenging to obtain metadata on a SQL Server database. However, with the help of INFORMATION_SCHEMA Views, you can efficiently query metadata on a data source. In this comprehensive guide, we will explore what INFORMATION_SCHEMA Views are, why you should use them, and how to query metadata on a SQL Server database using these views. We will also look at some other ways to obtain metadata on a database and provide example code to help you get started.
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What are INFORMATION_SCHEMA Views?
INFORMATION_SCHEMA Views are a set of views that provide information about all the objects in a database, including tables, columns, queries, and views. These views are created automatically by the SQL Server and can be accessed by any user with appropriate permissions. The INFORMATION_SCHEMA Views are a part of the ANSI SQL standard and are therefore supported by most SQL database management systems.
Why Should I Use INFORMATION_SCHEMA Views in SQL Server?
INFORMATION_SCHEMA Views provide a standardized way to query metadata on a SQL Server database. By using these views, you can obtain information about tables, columns, queries, and views in a consistent manner across different databases. This makes it easier to query and analyze metadata on a data source.
Using INFORMATION_SCHEMA Views also makes your SQL queries more efficient as you don't have to write complex queries to obtain information about database objects. In addition, you can use INFORMATION_SCHEMA Views to determine the makeup of a table, find out if a table or column exists in your database, and grant permissions using GRANT statements.
How to Query the Metadata on a Data Source Using INFORMATION_SCHEMA Views
To query the metadata on a SQL Server database using INFORMATION_SCHEMA Views, you can follow these steps:
- Connect to your SQL Server instance using SQL Server Management Studio or a similar tool.
- Open a query window and select the database you want to query metadata on.
- Use the appropriate INFORMATION_SCHEMA View to obtain the metadata you need.
For example, to obtain information about all the tables in a database, you can use the INFORMATION_SCHEMA.TABLES view, as shown below:
SELECT *
FROM INFORMATION_SCHEMA.TABLES
WHERE TABLE_TYPE = 'BASE TABLE'This will return information about all the tables in the selected database that are not views. To obtain information about views, you can change the TABLE_TYPE filter to 'VIEW'.
Similarly, to obtain information about all the columns in a table, you can use the INFORMATION_SCHEMA.COLUMNS view, as shown below:
SELECT *
FROM INFORMATION_SCHEMA.COLUMNS
WHERE TABLE_NAME = 'my_table'This will return information about all the columns in the my_table table.
You can also use the INFORMATION_SCHEMA.ROUTINES view to obtain information about stored procedures, functions, and triggers in the selected database.
SELECT *
FROM INFORMATION_SCHEMA.ROUTINES
WHERE ROUTINE_TYPE = 'PROCEDURE'This will return information about all the stored procedures in the selected database.
Other Ways to Obtain Metadata on a SQL Server Database
Although INFORMATION_SCHEMA Views are an efficient and standardized way to query metadata on a SQL Server database, there are other ways to obtain metadata. Some of these ways include:
-
Using system tables: Like INFORMATION_SCHEMA Views, SQL Server system tables provide metadata about database objects. However, using system tables can be more complex than using INFORMATION_SCHEMA Views.
-
Database diagramming tools: You can use database diagramming tools like Chartio to obtain metadata about a SQL Server database. These tools provide a graphical user interface that makes it easy to explore the architecture of a database.
-
Search parameters: Many SQL Server management tools and libraries, such as SQL Server Management Studio, allow you to search for database objects using names and other parameters.
Example Code
To help you get started with using INFORMATION_SCHEMA Views, we've provided some example code below:
-- Obtain information about all the tables in a database
SELECT *
FROM INFORMATION_SCHEMA.TABLES
WHERE TABLE_TYPE = 'BASE TABLE'
-- Obtain information about all the columns in a table
SELECT *
FROM INFORMATION_SCHEMA.COLUMNS
WHERE TABLE_NAME = 'my_table'
-- Obtain information about all the stored procedures in a database
SELECT *
FROM INFORMATION_SCHEMA.ROUTINES
WHERE ROUTINE_TYPE = 'PROCEDURE'Conclusion
In conclusion, INFORMATION_SCHEMA Views are an efficient and standardized way to query metadata on a SQL Server database. By using these views, you can obtain information about tables, columns, queries, and views in a consistent manner across different databases. You can also use the views to determine the makeup of a table, find out if a table or column exists in your database, and grant permissions using GRANT statements.
Although there are other ways to obtain metadata on a SQL Server database, using INFORMATION_SCHEMA Views is the easiest and most reliable way. We hope that this guide has helped you understand what INFORMATION_SCHEMA Views are, why you should use them, and how to query metadata on a data source using them.