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SQL_Server_50_Basic_to_Moderate_Questions

The document provides a comprehensive list of SQL Server interview questions and answers, covering fundamental concepts such as databases, tables, keys, and various SQL commands. It also includes explanations of joins, stored procedures, transactions, and indexing. This resource serves as a guide for individuals preparing for SQL Server interviews.

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2 views4 pages

SQL_Server_50_Basic_to_Moderate_Questions

The document provides a comprehensive list of SQL Server interview questions and answers, covering fundamental concepts such as databases, tables, keys, and various SQL commands. It also includes explanations of joins, stored procedures, transactions, and indexing. This resource serves as a guide for individuals preparing for SQL Server interviews.

Uploaded by

mahi
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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SQL Server Interview Questions and Answers

Basic to Moderate SQL Server Interview Questions

Q: What is SQL Server?

A: SQL Server is a relational database management system (RDBMS) developed by Microsoft.

Q: What is a database?

A: A structured set of data stored and accessed electronically.

Q: What is a table?

A: A collection of rows and columns used to store data.

Q: What is a primary key?

A: A column or set of columns that uniquely identifies each row in a table.

Q: What is a foreign key?

A: A key used to link two tables together by referencing a primary key in another table.

Q: What is a constraint?

A: Rules enforced on data columns to ensure data integrity.

Q: What is normalization?

A: Process of organizing data to reduce redundancy and improve data integrity.

Q: What is denormalization?

A: Combining tables to reduce complexity and increase read performance.

Q: What is an index?

A: An object that improves the speed of data retrieval from a table.

Q: What is a view?

A: A virtual table based on a SQL query.

Q: What are joins?

A: Joins combine rows from two or more tables based on related columns.

Q: What is an inner join?

A: Returns rows when there is a match in both tables.

Q: What is a left join?

A: Returns all rows from the left table, and matched rows from the right table.
SQL Server Interview Questions and Answers

Q: What is a right join?

A: Returns all rows from the right table, and matched rows from the left table.

Q: What is a full outer join?

A: Returns rows when there is a match in either left or right table.

Q: What is a cross join?

A: Returns the Cartesian product of the two tables.

Q: What is a self join?

A: A self join is a regular join but the table is joined with itself.

Q: What is a stored procedure?

A: A precompiled collection of SQL statements that can be reused.

Q: What is a function in SQL Server?

A: A stored program that returns a single value or table.

Q: What is a trigger?

A: A special type of stored procedure that automatically executes when an event occurs.

Q: What is the difference between `DELETE` and `TRUNCATE`?

A: `DELETE` removes rows with logging and conditions; `TRUNCATE` removes all rows quickly without logging.

Q: What is a transaction?

A: A sequence of operations performed as a single logical unit of work.

Q: What is ACID in SQL Server?

A: Atomicity, Consistency, Isolation, Durability - properties of a transaction.

Q: What are DDL commands?

A: `CREATE`, `ALTER`, `DROP`, etc. that define database schema.

Q: What are DML commands?

A: `SELECT`, `INSERT`, `UPDATE`, `DELETE` used to manipulate data.

Q: What are DCL commands?

A: `GRANT`, `REVOKE` - used for access control.

Q: What is the use of `GROUP BY`?

A: Groups rows that have the same values into summary rows.
SQL Server Interview Questions and Answers

Q: What is the use of `ORDER BY`?

A: Sorts the result set in ascending or descending order.

Q: What is a subquery?

A: A query nested inside another query.

Q: What is a correlated subquery?

A: A subquery that references a column from the outer query.

Q: What are temporary tables?

A: Tables created using `#` that exist temporarily during the session.

Q: What is a table variable?

A: A variable that holds table data and exists for the batch duration.

Q: Difference between temp table and table variable?

A: Temp tables support indexing/stats; table variables are faster for small sets.

Q: What is a schema?

A: A logical container for database objects like tables and views.

Q: What is a synonym?

A: An alias or alternate name for a database object.

Q: What is a CTE?

A: A Common Table Expression is a temporary result set used in a SELECT, INSERT, etc.

Q: What is the difference between `ISNULL` and `COALESCE`?

A: `ISNULL` returns a specified value for NULL, `COALESCE` returns the first non-NULL among arguments.

Q: What is the difference between `HAVING` and `WHERE`?

A: `WHERE` filters rows before grouping; `HAVING` filters groups after aggregation.

Q: What are aggregate functions?

A: `SUM`, `AVG`, `MAX`, `MIN`, `COUNT` - used to calculate values from sets of rows.

Q: What is indexing?

A: Technique to optimize performance of queries by minimizing disk I/O.

Q: What are types of indexes?

A: Clustered, Non-clustered, Unique, Full-text, XML Indexes.


SQL Server Interview Questions and Answers

Q: What is a clustered index?

A: Sorts and stores table data rows in the order of the key.

Q: What is a non-clustered index?

A: A structure separate from the data rows that contains pointers to the data.

Q: What is the maximum number of clustered indexes per table?

A: One clustered index per table.

Q: What is the use of `SET NOCOUNT ON`?

A: Prevents the message indicating the number of rows affected from being returned.

Q: What is SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS)?

A: A tool for configuring, managing, and administering all components within SQL Server.

Q: How do you retrieve the current date and time?

A: Use `GETDATE()` function.

Q: How to find the number of rows in a table?

A: Use `SELECT COUNT(*) FROM TableName`.

Q: What is a unique key?

A: Ensures all values in a column are different and allows one NULL.

Q: What is a composite key?

A: A primary key consisting of two or more columns.

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