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Quick Overview: Temporary Tables in SQL Server 2005

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22 Sep 2009CPOL4 min read 863.4K   102   65
Basic overview of temporary Tables in SQL Server 2005

Table of Contents

Introduction

SQL Server provides the concept of temporary table which helps the developer in a great way. These tables can be created at runtime and can do the all kinds of operations that one normal table can do. But, based on the table types, the scope is limited. These tables are created inside tempdb database.

In this article, I am just going to give a quick overview for beginners on those temporary tables. Please give your valuable suggestions and feedback to improve this article.  

Different Types of Temporary Tables

SQL Server provides two types of temp tables based on the behavior and scope of the table. These are:

  • Local Temp Table
  • Global Temp Table

Local Temp Table

Local temp tables are only available to the current connection for the user; and they are automatically deleted when the user disconnects from instances. Local temporary table name is stared with hash ("#") sign.

Global Temp Table

Global Temporary tables name starts with a double hash ("##"). Once this table has been created by a connection, like a permanent table it is then available to any user by any connection. It can only be deleted once all connections have been closed.

Creating Temporary Table in SQL Server 2005

As I have already discussed, there are two types of temporary tables available. Here I am going to describe each of them.

Local Temporary Table

The syntax given below is used to create a local Temp table in SQL Server 2005:

SQL
CREATE TABLE #LocalTempTable(
UserID int,
UserName varchar(50), 
UserAddress varchar(150))

The above script will create a temporary table in tempdb database. We can insert or delete records in the temporary table similar to a general table like:

SQL
insert into #LocalTempTable values ( 1, 'Abhijit','India');

Now select records from that table:

SQL
select * from #LocalTempTable

After execution of all these statements, if you close the query window and again execute "Insert" or "Select" Command, it will throw the following error:

Msg 208, Level 16, State 0, Line 1
Invalid object name '#LocalTempTable'.

This is because the scope of Local Temporary table is only bounded with the current connection of current user.

Global Temporary Table

The scope of Global temporary table is the same for the entire user for a particular connection. We need to put "##" with the name of Global temporary tables. Below is the syntax for creating a Global Temporary Table:  

SQL
CREATE TABLE ##NewGlobalTempTable(
UserID int,
UserName varchar(50), 
UserAddress varchar(150))

The above script will create a temporary table in tempdb database. We can insert or delete records in the temporary table similar to a general table like:

SQL
insert into ##NewGlobalTempTable values ( 1, 'Abhijit','India');

Now select records from that table:

SQL
select * from ##NewGlobalTempTable

Global temporary tables are visible to all SQL Server connections. When you create one of these, all the users can see it.

Storage Location of Temporary Table

Temporary tables are stored inside the Temporary Folder of tempdb. Whenever we create a temporary table, it goes to Temporary folder of tempdb database.

TempTableLocation.JPG

Now, if we deeply look into the name of Local Temporary table names, a 'dash' is associated with each and every table name along with an ID. Have a look at the image below:

LocalTable.JPG - Click to enlarge image

SQL server does all this automatically, we do not need to worry about this; we need to only use the table name.  

When to Use Temporary Tables?

Below are the scenarios where we can use temporary tables:

  • When we are doing large number of row manipulation in stored procedures.
  • This is useful to replace the cursor. We can store the result set data into a temp table, then we can manipulate the data from there.
  • When we are having a complex join operation.

Points to Remember Before Using Temporary Tables

  • Temporary table created on tempdb of SQL Server. This is a separate database. So, this is an additional overhead and can causes performance issues.
  • Number of rows and columns need to be as minimum as needed.
  • Tables need to be deleted when they are done with their work.

Alternative Approach: Table Variable

Alternative of Temporary table is the Table variable which can do all kinds of operations that we can perform in Temp table. Below is the syntax for using Table variable.

SQL
Declare @TempTableVariable TABLE(
UserID int,
UserName varchar(50), 
UserAddress varchar(150))

The below scripts are used to insert and read the records for Tablevariables:

SQL
insert into @TempTableVariable values ( 1, 'Abhijit','India');

Now select records from that tablevariable:

SQL
select * from @TempTableVariable

When to Use Table Variable Over Temp Table

Tablevariable is always useful for less data. If the result set returns a large number of records, we need to go for temp table.

Reference and Further Study 

History

  • 23rd September, 2009: Initial post

License

This article, along with any associated source code and files, is licensed under The Code Project Open License (CPOL)


Written By
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Comments and Discussions

 
PraiseVery clear and once anyone reads they will never forget the usage of temp tabes Pin
karunakar bhogyari19-Jun-18 1:54
karunakar bhogyari19-Jun-18 1:54 
GeneralMy vote of 5 Pin
Suvendu Shekhar Giri10-Jan-16 18:21
professionalSuvendu Shekhar Giri10-Jan-16 18:21 
QuestionMessage Closed Pin
23-Aug-15 19:40
Member 1117526123-Aug-15 19:40 
AnswerRe: copy Pin
Abhijit Jana23-Aug-15 20:49
professionalAbhijit Jana23-Aug-15 20:49 
GeneralGood Article Pin
Alireza_136223-Jul-15 20:37
Alireza_136223-Jul-15 20:37 
QuestionGood Article...!!! Pin
Bhavikkumar Chaudhari13-May-15 20:31
Bhavikkumar Chaudhari13-May-15 20:31 
QuestionHi Pin
Member 1168723813-May-15 0:52
Member 1168723813-May-15 0:52 
GeneralMy vote of 2 Pin
Saad Fouad17-Feb-15 19:22
Saad Fouad17-Feb-15 19:22 
GeneralRe: My vote of 2 Pin
Suvendu Shekhar Giri10-Jan-16 18:20
professionalSuvendu Shekhar Giri10-Jan-16 18:20 
QuestionTemporary Tables in SQL Server 2005 Pin
Member 1116942921-Oct-14 1:52
Member 1116942921-Oct-14 1:52 
GeneralMy vote of 5 Pin
RUs12313-Oct-14 1:21
RUs12313-Oct-14 1:21 
Questiontemp table as Cache Pin
jcpc913-May-14 18:24
jcpc913-May-14 18:24 
GeneralGood stuff!! Pin
John McCullough18-Apr-14 10:05
John McCullough18-Apr-14 10:05 
Just want I needed -short and very descriptive. Thanks for posting. Thumbs Up | :thumbsup:
Generalinformative Pin
Amey K Bhatkar9-Apr-14 1:01
Amey K Bhatkar9-Apr-14 1:01 
QuestionThanks.. Pin
Ravit119-Feb-14 16:56
Ravit119-Feb-14 16:56 
GeneralThanks Pin
JSG mukesh12-Feb-14 20:26
JSG mukesh12-Feb-14 20:26 
GeneralMy vote of 5 Pin
Renju Vinod11-Dec-13 17:14
professionalRenju Vinod11-Dec-13 17:14 
QuestionUse of Table variable over temp table Pin
mishvivek5-Sep-13 9:01
mishvivek5-Sep-13 9:01 
SuggestionSuggestion for Scope of Globel temp Table Pin
MODI_RAHUL29-Aug-13 2:33
MODI_RAHUL29-Aug-13 2:33 
QuestionNice explained Pin
jagadeesh.y29-Jul-13 4:12
jagadeesh.y29-Jul-13 4:12 
GeneralMy vote of 5 Pin
neetesh12326-Jun-13 20:30
neetesh12326-Jun-13 20:30 
GeneralMy vote of 5 Pin
Member 1005074224-Jun-13 20:23
Member 1005074224-Jun-13 20:23 
GeneralMy vote of 5 Pin
Sandeepkumar Ramani22-May-13 1:26
Sandeepkumar Ramani22-May-13 1:26 
GeneralMy vote of 5 Pin
NIKHIL788 Agrawal29-Apr-13 23:33
NIKHIL788 Agrawal29-Apr-13 23:33 
GeneralMy vote 5 Pin
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PratimaG15-Apr-13 4:50 

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