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What is the difference between Stored Procedures and Function (SQL Server interview question with answers)?

 

Stored Procedure

Functions

Compilation

Stored in database in compiled format.

Note: Compiled indicates, Execution plan will be made by sql at the time it created and stored in DB.

Will compiled at run time

Return type

It can directly return only integers

 

Return type is not must

It can return any scalar or table

 

Return type is must

Multiple return values

It can also return more than one values (of any data type) indirectly with the help of out parameters

It won't support out parameters

DML Statements

Can have DML statements.

Cannot have DML statements.

Note: In case of multi-table valued functions it can contain DML statements affecting Table Variables.

Execution

Stored procedure can execute function.

 

Cannot be the part of Select query as a column.

 

Stored Procedures cannot be used in the SQL statements anywhere in the WHERE/HAVING/SELECT

Function cannot execute stored procedure.

 

Can be the part of select query as a column.

 

 

Functions be used in the SQL statements anywhere in the WHERE/HAVING/SELECT

Exception handling

Can have Try....Catch

Cannot have Try....Catch

 Sometimes we face a question, why we can't execute stored procedure inside a function?

Answer:

1. Stored Procedure may contain DML statements.

2. Function can't contain DML statements.
    So executing Function inside stored procedure will never break rule 1.
    But executing stored procedure inside function may break rule no 2.

So ultimately strict rule is made why Sql team, we can't execute stored procedures inside function.

We are thankful to QuestPond.com for providing this SQL Server interview question with answers tutorial.

Below is a nice 20+ SQL Server interview questions and answers:-

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