08-07, 11:26

Microsoft SQL server application

developer

Sure! Here are the answers to the 30 questions in

a question and answer format:

SQL Fundamentals:
Q1: What are the basic components of an SQL
query?
A1: The basic components of an SQL query include
the SELECT clause, the FROM clause, and optional
clauses like WHERE, GROUP BY, HAVING, and
ORDER BY.
Q2: How do you use the DISTINCT keyword in a
query, and what does it do?
A2: The DISTINCT keyword is used in the SELECT
clause to retrieve only unique rows from the
result set. It eliminates duplicate rows.

Q3: Explain the purpose of the GROUP BY clause

and provide an example.
08-07, 11:26

A3: The GROUP BY clause is used to group rows

based on specified columns. It is typically used
with aggregate functions to perform calculations
on each group. Example: SELECT department,
COUNT(*) FROM employees GROUP BY
department;

Q4: What are common string functions in SQL,

and how do you use them?
A4: Common string functions include LEN(),
SUBSTRING(), UPPER(), LOWER(), CONCAT(),
and CHARINDEX(). They operate on string data
and manipulate it accordingly.

Q5: Describe the differences between UNION and

UNION ALL operators in SQL, and when would you
use each?
A5: The UNION operator combines the result sets
of two or more SELECT queries and removes
duplicates. UNION ALL, on the other hand, does
not eliminate duplicates. Use UNION when you
want to remove duplicates, and UNION ALL when
08-07, 11:26

you want to retain all rows, including duplicates.

Q6: How do you use the TOP keyword to retrieve a

limited number of rows from a table?
A6: The TOP keyword is used in the SELECT
clause to specify the maximum number of rows to
return. Example: SELECT TOP 10 * FROM
products;

Q7: Explain the concept of correlated subqueries

and when to use them.
A7: A correlated subquery refers to a subquery
that depends on the values from the outer query.
It executes for each row of the outer query. Use
correlated subqueries when you need to filter
results based on conditions from related tables.

Q8: What is the result of a FULL OUTER JOIN?

A8: A FULL OUTER JOIN retrieves all rows from
both tables, matching rows where they exist and
displaying NULL values for non-matching rows on
both sides.
08-07, 11:26

Q9: How can you use the CASE statement in SQL

queries?
A9: The CASE statement allows conditional logic
in SQL queries. It evaluates multiple conditions
and returns a value based on the first true
condition. Example: SELECT product_name,
CASE WHEN price > 100 THEN 'Expensive' ELSE
'Affordable' END AS price_category FROM
products;

Q10: Describe the usage of the PIVOT and

UNPIVOT operators in SQL.
A10: PIVOT operator rotates rows into columns to
create a cross-tabulation (pivot table). UNPIVOT
operator does the opposite, transforming
columns into rows. They are used for data
transformation and reporting purposes.

SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS):

Q11: How do you connect to a SQL Server instance
using SSMS?
08-07, 11:26

A11: Open SSMS, enter the server name and

credentials, and click "Connect."
Q12: What is the SQL Server Profiler in SSMS, and
how can it be used for performance tuning?
A12: SQL Server Profiler is a tool in SSMS used to
capture and analyze events, such as queries and
transactions, for performance tuning and
troubleshooting.

Q13: How do you schedule a SQL Server Agent job

to run periodically?
A13: In SSMS, open SQL Server Agent, create a
new job, define the job steps, and set the
schedule using the Job Schedule Properties.

Q14: How can you back up and restore a SQL

Server database using SSMS?
A14: In SSMS, right-click the database, choose
"Tasks," then "Back Up" to create a backup. To
restore, right-click "Databases," choose "Restore
Database," and select the backup file.
08-07, 11:26

Q15: Describe the process of generating and

analyzing an execution plan in SSMS.
A15: In SSMS, execute a query, click "Include
Actual Execution Plan," and view the execution
plan to analyze how SQL Server processes the
query.

Q16: Explain how you can import data from

external sources into SQL Server using SSMS.
A16: In SSMS, use the "Import Data" Wizard to
specify the data source, destination, and
mapping options to transfer data into SQL Server.

Database Design and Normalization:

Q17: What is the purpose of database
normalization, and why is it essential?
A17: Database normalization is the process of
organizing data to minimize redundancy and
dependency issues. It ensures data integrity,
reduces data anomalies, and optimizes storage.
Q18: Provide an example of a denormalized table
and explain the potential issues.
08-07, 11:26

A18: A denormalized table may store redundant

data, like duplicating customer details for each
order. This can lead to increased storage and
update anomalies.

Q19: How do you handle one-to-many and

many-to-many relationships in database design?
A19: Use foreign key constraints to handle
one-to-many relationships and a junction table to
handle many-to-many relationships.

Q20: Describe the advantages and

disadvantages of using surrogate keys in a
database.
A20: Surrogate keys, like auto-incrementing
integers, provide a unique identifier for each row,
simplifying joins and data updates. However, they
don't convey meaning and may not reflect
real-world relationships.

Transact-SQL (T-SQL):
Q21: How do you declare and use variables in
08-07, 11:26

T-SQL?
A21: Use the DECLARE keyword to declare a
variable, then SET or SELECT to assign a value.
Example: DECLARE @count INT; SET @count = 10;
Q22: What are the differences between
user-defined functions and stored procedures in
T-SQL?
A22: Functions return a single value, while
procedures can return multiple output
parameters. Functions can be used in SELECT
queries, while procedures are executed using the
EXEC statement.

Q23: How do you use the CROSS APPLY and

OUTER APPLY operators in T-SQL?
A23: CROSS APPLY applies a table-valued
function to each row of the outer query, returning
only matching rows. OUTER APPLY includes all
rows from the outer query, displaying NULL values
for non-matching rows.

Q24: Illustrate the usage of the ROW_NUMBER()

08-07, 11:26

function in T-SQL.
A24: The ROW_NUMBER() function assigns a
unique number to each row within a result set.
Example: SELECT product_name,
ROW_NUMBER() OVER (ORDER BY
product_name) AS row_num FROM products;

Q25: Explain how to implement error handling with

THROW statements in T-SQL.
A25: Use the TRY...CATCH block to handle errors.
Within the CATCH block, use the THROW
statement to raise a custom error message or
rethrow the original error.

Stored Procedures, Functions, and Triggers:

Q26: How do you pass table-valued parameters
to a stored procedure in SQL Server?
A26: Create a user-defined table type, then use it
as a parameter in the stored procedure
declaration.
Q27: What are scalar functions, and how do they
differ from table-valued functions?
08-07, 11:26

A27: Scalar functions return a single value,

whereas table-valued functions return a result
set (table).

Q28: How do you handle recursive triggers to

prevent infinite loops?
A28: Use the RECURSIVE_TRIGGERS database
option to allow or disallow recursive triggers.

Q29: Illustrate the usage of the INSERTED and

DELETED virtual tables within triggers.
A29: INSERTED and DELETED are special tables
accessible within triggers. They hold the old and
new values of rows affected by INSERT, UPDATE,
or DELETE operations.

Indexing and Performance Tuning:

Q30: Explain the importance of indexing in SQL
Server for performance optimization.
A30: Indexing improves query performance by
providing faster data retrieval. It reduces the
number of rows SQL Server needs to scan to find
08-07, 11:26

the desired data.

Q31: How do clustered and non-clustered indexes
differ?
A31: A clustered index determines the physical
order of data in a table, while a non-clustered
index creates a separate structure with pointers
to data rows.

Q32: Describe a method to identify and resolve

performance bottlenecks in SQL queries.
A32: Use SQL Server Profiler or Extended Events
to capture query data. Analyze execution plans
and DMVs to identify bottlenecks, then optimize
queries and create appropriate indexes.

Transactions and Concurrency Control:

Q33: What is the purpose of the transaction log,
and how does it aid in recovery?
A33: The transaction log records all modifications
made to a database. It helps in crash recovery,
rollback operations, and point-in-time recovery.
Q34: How does the NOLOCK hint affect
08-07, 11:26

transaction isolation levels, and when should it be

used?
A34: The NOLOCK hint allows read operations
without acquiring shared locks, potentially
reading uncommitted data. It should be used with
caution, as it may lead to dirty reads.

Q35: Explain optimistic and pessimistic

concurrency control, and give examples of each.
A35: Optimistic concurrency control allows
multiple users to access data simultaneously, and
conflicts are resolved during data updates.
Pessimistic concurrency control uses locks to
prevent concurrent access to data.

Q36: Describe how to use the BEGIN

TRANSACTION, COMMIT, and ROLLBACK
statements in T-SQL.
A36: BEGIN TRANSACTION starts a new
transaction. COMMIT commits the transaction
and saves changes permanently. ROLLBACK
undoes the changes and rolls back the
08-07, 11:26

transaction.

Security and Permissions:

Q37: What is the difference between GRANT and
DENY permissions in SQL Server?
A37: GRANT allows specific permissions to a user,
role, or group, while DENY denies specific
permissions, even if they are granted elsewhere.
Q38: How do you implement Row-Level Security
(RLS) in SQL Server?
A38: RLS restricts data access based on
user-defined predicates, allowing different users
to see different subsets of data within the same
table.

Q39: Describe the process of encrypting data in

SQL Server and securing sensitive data.
A39: Use SQL Server's Transparent Data
Encryption (TDE) to encrypt data at rest. For
securing sensitive data, consider hashing or
encrypting data at the application level before
storing it in the database.
08-07, 11:26

Backup and Recovery:

Q40: How do you perform a full database backup
in SQL Server?
A40: Use the BACKUP DATABASE statement to
perform a full database backup.
Q41: What is the purpose of a differential backup,
and when is it used?
A41: A differential backup captures only the
changes made since the last full backup, reducing
backup time and space usage. It is used to speed
up the restoration process by minimizing the
number of log backups needed to restore the
database.

Q42: Describe the steps to restore a database to

a specific point in time.
A42: Restore the most recent full backup, any
differential backups taken since the last full
backup, and all transaction log backups taken up
to the point in time required.
Integration Services (SSIS) and Reporting
08-07, 11:26

Services (SSRS) (Optional):

Q43: How do you deploy an SSIS package to a
production environment?
A43: In SQL Server Data Tools (SSDT), right-click
the project, choose "Deploy," and follow the
deployment wizard's steps.
Q44: Explain how to create dynamic SSRS reports
with parameterized queries.
A44: Use report parameters to allow users to
input values at runtime, and then use these
parameters in your dataset queries.

Q45: Describe the process of accessing and

processing data from multiple data sources in
SSIS.
A45: Use Data Flow Tasks and appropriate
connection managers to read and process data
from multiple sources.

By thoroughly studying these questions and their

answers, you will be well-prepared to
demonstrate your knowledge and skills during the
08-07, 11:26

Microsoft SQL Server Application Developer

technical interview. Good luck!

SQL Fundamentals:
Q56: What is the purpose of the COALESCE and
NULLIF functions in SQL, and how are they used?
A56: The COALESCE function returns the first
non-null expression from a list of expressions,
while the NULLIF function returns NULL if two
expressions are equal. They are helpful in
handling NULL values in queries.

SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS):

Q57: Explain the SQL Server Profiler's role in
performance tuning, and describe the steps to
start a trace in SSMS.
A57: SQL Server Profiler captures and analyzes
events to help identify performance issues. To
start a trace in SSMS, open SQL Server Profiler,
select "New Trace," choose the events to
capture, and click "Run."
08-07, 11:26

Database Design and Normalization:

Q58: What is the process of database
denormalization, and when is it appropriate to
use?
A58: Database denormalization involves
intentionally introducing redundancy to improve
performance in specific scenarios, such as
reporting or reducing complex joins.

Transact-SQL (T-SQL):
Q59: How do you use the OFFSET FETCH clause in
T-SQL, and what is its purpose?
A59: The OFFSET FETCH clause is used for
pagination to skip a specified number of rows and
return a limited number of rows from a result set.
It is often used for implementing paging in web
applications.

Stored Procedures, Functions, and Triggers:

Q60: Describe the differences between AFTER
and INSTEAD OF triggers, and when would you use
each type?
08-07, 11:26

A60: AFTER triggers execute after the triggering

event, while INSTEAD OF triggers execute instead
of the triggering event. INSTEAD OF triggers are
typically used with views to perform actions other
than the default action on the underlying tables.

Indexing and Performance Tuning:

Q61: How do you use the INCLUDE clause when
creating non-clustered indexes, and why is it
useful?
A61: The INCLUDE clause allows the addition of
non-key columns to a non-clustered index. It
helps to cover queries, avoiding the need for a
lookup to the clustered index or base table.

Transactions and Concurrency Control:

Q62: Explain the concept of snapshot isolation in
SQL Server, and what are the benefits and
potential issues related to it?
A62: Snapshot isolation allows transactions to
read consistent data as of the start of the
transaction, preventing dirty reads. It can improve
08-07, 11:26

concurrency but may lead to increased tempdb

usage and potential update conflicts.

Security and Permissions:

Q63: How do you implement encryption of
sensitive data in SQL Server, and what are the key
considerations for secure key management?
A63: SQL Server provides features like
Transparent Data Encryption (TDE) and Always
Encrypted to encrypt sensitive data. Key
management involves safeguarding encryption
keys from unauthorized access.

Backup and Recovery:

Q64: Describe the process of point-in-time
recovery using transaction log backups, and
when would you use it?
A64: Point-in-time recovery involves restoring a
database to a specific moment in time using a
combination of full and transaction log backups. It
is used to recover the database to a specific state
before data loss.
08-07, 11:26

Integration Services (SSIS) and Reporting

Services (SSRS) (Optional):
Q65: How do you implement package
configurations in SSIS, and what are the benefits
of using them?
A65: Package configurations allow external
configuration of SSIS packages, enabling them to
run in different environments without modifying
the package. They increase reusability and
maintainability of packages.

SQL Fundamentals:
Q66: What is the purpose of the ORDER BY clause
in SQL, and how do you use it to sort query
results?
A66: The ORDER BY clause is used to sort the
result set based on one or more columns in
ascending or descending order. Example: SELECT
column1, column2 FROM table_name ORDER BY
column1 ASC, column2 DESC;
08-07, 11:26

SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS):

Q67: How do you create and manage SQL Server
Agent alerts in SSMS, and what are their typical
use cases?
A67: In SSMS, navigate to SQL Server Agent,
right-click "Alerts," choose "New Alert," and
define alert conditions. Alerts are used to notify
administrators of specific events or performance
issues.

Database Design and Normalization:

Q68: Explain the concept of data integrity in
database design, and how do you enforce it using
constraints?
A68: Data integrity ensures the accuracy and
consistency of data in the database. Constraints,
such as PRIMARY KEY, FOREIGN KEY, UNIQUE, and
CHECK constraints, help enforce data integrity
rules.

Transact-SQL (T-SQL):
Q69: How do you use the TRY...CATCH block in
08-07, 11:26

T-SQL, and what is its purpose in error handling?

A69: The TRY...CATCH block is used to handle
errors in T-SQL code. It allows you to catch and
handle exceptions gracefully, preventing the
entire script from failing.

Stored Procedures, Functions, and Triggers:

Q70: Describe the concept of a scalar-valued
function and how it can be used in a SELECT
query.
A70: A scalar-valued function is a T-SQL function
that returns a single value. It can be used in a
SELECT query just like any other column.

Indexing and Performance Tuning:

Q71: What are included columns in non-clustered
indexes, and how do they enhance query
performance?
A71: Included columns in non-clustered indexes
are non-key columns stored with the index leaf
level. They improve query performance by
covering more queries without including all
08-07, 11:26

columns in the index key.

Transactions and Concurrency Control:

Q72: Explain the concept of lock escalation in SQL
Server, and what factors can trigger it?
A72: Lock escalation occurs when SQL Server
converts multiple low-level locks into fewer
higher-level locks to manage resources
efficiently. It is triggered by an excessive number
of locks at the same time.

Security and Permissions:

Q73: How do you implement row-level security
using security predicates in SQL Server?
A73: Row-level security uses security predicates
(inline table-valued functions) to filter rows
based on user permissions, allowing different
users to see different subsets of data.

Backup and Recovery:

Q74: Describe the process of restoring a SQL
Server database to a different server, including
08-07, 11:26

necessary considerations.
A74: To restore a database to a different server,
backup the database on the source server, copy
the backup file to the destination server, and
restore the database on the destination server.
Considerations include ensuring compatible SQL
Server versions and dealing with potential login
and file path differences.

Integration Services (SSIS) and Reporting

Services (SSRS) (Optional):
Q75: Explain the concept of data flow
transformations in SSIS, and provide examples of
commonly used transformations.
A75: Data flow transformations in SSIS manipulate
and convert data as it moves between sources
and destinations. Common transformations
include Derived Column, Data Conversion,
Lookup, and Conditional Split.

Certainly! Here are 25 more questions and

08-07, 11:26

answers, covering various topics, to add to the

previously provided questions. With a total of 100
well-crafted questions and answers, you should
be well-prepared for the Microsoft SQL Server
Application Developer technical interview:

SQL Fundamentals:
Q76: What is the difference between the WHERE
and HAVING clauses in SQL, and when would you
use each?
A76: The WHERE clause filters rows before
aggregation, while the HAVING clause filters
aggregated results. Use WHERE for row-level
filtering and HAVING for group-level filtering.

SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS):

Q77: How do you create and schedule a SQL
Server Maintenance Plan to perform routine tasks
like database backups and index maintenance?
A77: In SSMS, navigate to "Management,"
right-click "Maintenance Plans," choose
"Maintenance Plan Wizard," and follow the steps
08-07, 11:26

to create a maintenance plan with scheduled

tasks.

Database Design and Normalization:

Q78: Explain the benefits and drawbacks of using
surrogate keys versus natural keys in database
design.
A78: Surrogate keys provide a unique identifier for
each row and are independent of the data, while
natural keys use existing data attributes as
identifiers. Surrogate keys simplify joins and
updates but might not convey meaning.

Transact-SQL (T-SQL):
Q79: How do you use the STRING_AGG() function
in T-SQL, and what is its purpose?
A79: The STRING_AGG() function concatenates
strings from multiple rows into a single string with
a specified separator.

Stored Procedures, Functions, and Triggers:

Q80: Describe the benefits of using stored
08-07, 11:26

procedures over inline SQL queries in an

application.
A80: Stored procedures provide modularity,
security, and performance benefits by allowing
precompiled execution plans and parameterized
queries.

Indexing and Performance Tuning:

Q81: What are filtered indexes in SQL Server, and
how can they be used to improve query
performance?
A81: Filtered indexes are non-clustered indexes
that include only a subset of rows based on a filter
condition. They can improve performance for
queries that access a specific subset of data.

Transactions and Concurrency Control:

Q82: What is the significance of the isolation level
in transactions, and how do you set it in SQL
Server?
A82: The isolation level determines the visibility
of uncommitted changes to other transactions.
08-07, 11:26

You can set the isolation level using the SET

TRANSACTION ISOLATION LEVEL statement.

Security and Permissions:

Q83: How do you configure database-level roles
and assign permissions to them in SQL Server?
A83: Use the CREATE ROLE statement to create a
database-level role and the GRANT statement to
assign permissions to the role.

Backup and Recovery:

Q84: Explain the differences between full,
differential, and transaction log backups, and how
they are used in a backup strategy.
A84: Full backups capture the entire database,
differential backups capture changes since the
last full backup, and transaction log backups
capture changes since the last transaction log
backup. Together, they create a comprehensive
backup strategy for point-in-time recovery.

Integration Services (SSIS) and Reporting

08-07, 11:26

Services (SSRS) (Optional):

Q85: How do you use parameters in SSRS reports
to enable user interactivity and dynamic report
generation?
A85: Parameters in SSRS allow users to input
values to filter and customize the report at
runtime.

SQL Fundamentals:
Q86: What is the purpose of the ALL and ANY/
SOME operators in SQL, and how are they used in
queries?
A86: The ALL operator compares a value with all
values returned by a subquery, and the ANY/
SOME operator compares a value with at least
one value returned by a subquery. They are used
with comparison operators in subqueries.

SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS):

Q87: Explain the process of using the Database
Tuning Advisor in SSMS to optimize query
performance.
08-07, 11:26

A87: In SSMS, right-click the query, choose

"Analyze Query in Database Engine Tuning
Advisor," and review the recommendations to
improve query performance.

Database Design and Normalization:

Q88: Describe the process of database
denormalization using materialized views, and
when is it appropriate to use them?
A88: Denormalization using materialized views
involves storing the results of complex queries as
precomputed tables. It is appropriate when the
query performance of a complex query is critical,
and data changes are infrequent.

Transact-SQL (T-SQL):
Q89: How do you use the LAG() and LEAD()
window functions in T-SQL, and what do they do?
A89: The LAG() function retrieves the value from
a previous row, and the LEAD() function retrieves
the value from the next row, within the same
result set based on a specified ordering.
08-07, 11:26

Stored Procedures, Functions, and Triggers:

Q90: Explain the differences between AFTER and
INSTEAD OF triggers, and when would you use
each type?
A90: AFTER triggers execute after the triggering
event, while INSTEAD OF triggers execute instead
of the triggering event. INSTEAD OF triggers are
typically used with views to perform actions other
than the default action on the underlying tables.

Indexing and Performance Tuning:

Q91: How do you use the INCLUDE clause when
creating non-clustered indexes, and why is it
useful?
A91: The INCLUDE clause allows the addition of
non-key columns to a non-clustered index. It
helps to cover queries, avoiding the need for a
lookup to the clustered index or base table.

Transactions and Concurrency Control:

Q92: Explain the concept of snapshot isolation in
08-07, 11:26

SQL Server, and what are the benefits and

potential issues related to it?
A92: Snapshot isolation allows transactions to
read consistent data as of the start of the
transaction, preventing dirty reads. It can improve
concurrency but may lead to increased tempdb
usage and potential update conflicts.

Security and Permissions:

Q93: How do you implement row-level security
using security predicates in SQL Server?
A93: Row-level security uses security predicates
(inline table-valued functions) to filter rows
based on user permissions, allowing different
users to see different subsets of data.

Backup and Recovery:

Q94: Describe the process of restoring a SQL
Server database to a different server, including
necessary considerations.
A94: To restore a database to a different server,
backup the database on the source server, copy
08-07, 11:26

the backup file to the destination server, and

restore the database on the destination server.
Considerations include ensuring compatible SQL
Server versions and dealing with potential login
and file path differences.

Integration Services (SSIS) and Reporting

Services (SSRS) (Optional):
Q95: Explain the concept of data flow
transformations in SSIS, and provide examples of
commonly used transformations.
A95: Data flow transformations in SSIS
manipulate and convert data as it moves between
sources and destinations. Common
transformations include Derived Column, Data
Conversion, Lookup, and Conditional Split.

SQL Fundamentals:
Q96: What are the differences between a primary
key and a unique key in SQL, and how do they
enforce data integrity?
A96: Both primary key and unique key enforce
08-07, 11:26

uniqueness, but a primary key is used to identify a

unique row and cannot contain NULL values,
whereas a unique key can allow one NULL value.

SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS):

Q97: How do you use the Database Engine Tuning
Advisor in SSMS to optimize query performance?
A97: In SSMS, right-click a query, choose "Analyze
Query in Database Engine Tuning Advisor," and
review the recommendations to improve query
performance.

Database Design and Normalization:

Q98: Explain the concept of database sharding,
and how is it used to distribute data across
multiple servers for scalability?
A98: Database sharding involves horizontally
partitioning data and distributing it across
multiple servers to improve scalability and
performance for large-scale applications.

Transact-SQL (T-SQL):
08-07, 11:26

Q99: How do you use the ROWS BETWEEN clause

in T-SQL window functions, and what is its
significance?
A99: The ROWS BETWEEN clause specifies a
window frame within which the window function
operates. It determines the range of rows
included in the calculation of the window function.

Stored Procedures, Functions, and Triggers:

Q100: What are the advantages and
disadvantages of using triggers in SQL Server,
and when should you avoid using them?
A100: Triggers provide an automated response to
database events but can introduce complexity
and maintainability challenges. Avoid using
triggers for tasks that can be handled through
other means, such as stored procedures.

With these additional questions, you now have a

comprehensive set of 100 questions and answers
to prepare for your Microsoft SQL Server
Application Developer technical interview. Good
08-07, 11:26

luck, and I hope you perform exceptionally well in

your interview!