amenjonathan (2/11/2011)
I also use SELECT NULL.Personally if something is faster and there's virtually no complexity difference, I use the faster version. Why waste where there is no need is my motto.
The point is, it's not significantly faster, it's a couple of nanoseconds at best. It's micro-optimisation, it's a waste of time for no value.
Use EXISTS (Select *, EXISTS (Select 1, EXISTS (Select NULL, or any other form as they are not going to make anything resembling a noticeable difference.
Gail Shaw
Microsoft Certified Master: SQL Server, MVP, M.Sc (Comp Sci)
SQL In The Wild: Discussions on DB performance with occasional diversions into recoverability