SQL Server CROSS APPLY and OUTER APPLY Helpful Examples

Microsoft introduced the APPLY operator in SQL Server 2005. Similar to a JOIN, it allows correlation between two table expressions. The key difference between the JOIN and APPLY operators is when you have a table-valued expression on the right side and want to evaluate it for each row from the left table expression. Since they produce similar results, when do you choose an APPLY versus a JOIN?

Power BI TMDL View: Benefits, Security Risks & Best Practices

The Tabular Model Definition Language (TMDL) provides a simpler way of defining Power BI Semantic Models. Unlike the JSON-based Tabular Model Scripting Language (TMSL), TMDL uses a more accessible tab-based format for specifying DAX measures, relationships, and Power Query code.

Which Should You Use: VARCHAR or NVARCHAR?

You’re building a new table or adding a column, and you wanna know which datatype to use: VARCHAR or NVARCHAR?

Static Versus Dynamic Bulk Insert Imports of Multi-File Datasets

There are numerous use cases for multi-file imports of CSV files into a SQL Server table:

Query Plans Pop Quiz: Three Simple Questions

Can you answer these questions?

The Phoenix Project

In this newly updated and expanded edition of the bestselling The Phoenix Project, co-author Gene Kim includes a new afterword and a deeper delve into the Three Ways as described in The DevOps Handbook.

• Printed book:
  • US
• Kindle book:
  • US

Managing Underused Indexes in SQL Server Availability Groups – Part 2

Knowing the usage from all workloads is definitely better than focusing on only the primary or a single secondary. But what if I want to make more informed decisions, incorporating row counts, size, and index columns into this output?

Memories of Andrew Clarke, by Simon Galbraith

Simon Galbraith, co-founder of Redgate and one of the creators of Simple Talk, remembers Andrew Clarke

SQL EXISTS Use Cases and Examples

I’ve seen the SQL EXISTS keyword in Microsoft SQL Server T-SQL code and don’t understand it well. What does it do? How do I use it? Are there best practices around SQL IF EXISTS?

Mastering SQL VIEWs: Syntax, Use Cases, and Best Practices

VIEWs are an undervalued and underused feature in SQL. They basically consist of a query that has been given a name, and a parameter list, so can be used like an inline macro. Technically, you’re supposed to think of it as a virtual table.