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:
Syntax:
EXEC sp_columns 'table_name';
where:
- EXEC: is used to execute the stored procedures.
- table_name: is the name of the table you want to describe.
Example
To describe the above table Customers using sp_columns we will have to run the following query
EXEC sp_columns 'Customers';
Output:
Explanation: The following query returns an output table having 7 columns. The first 3 columns describe the ownership and the name of the table. The fourth column describes the name of each column present in the table, similarly, the next column describes the data type, type name, and precision for each column of the table.
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.