Views exist in memory or on disk?

• NewBornDBA2017

  SSCarpal Tunnel

  Points: 4832

  More actions

  August 14, 2017 at 2:14 pm

  #338692

  When a user creates a view from multiple tables, the data from it gets stored somewhere. Is it in memory or on Disk? Just curious.

• Phil Parkin

  SSC Guru

  Points: 247158

  More actions

  August 14, 2017 at 2:19 pm

  #1955220

  newdba2017 - Monday, August 14, 2017 2:14 PM

  When a user creates a view from multiple tables, the data from it gets stored somewhere. Is it in memory or on Disk? Just curious.

  The data is already stored in the underlying tables and is not stored again.
  A (non-persisted) view is really just a SELECT query.

  ---

• Gail Shaw

  SSC Guru

  Points: 1004504

  More actions

  August 14, 2017 at 2:51 pm

  #1955224

  newdba2017 - Monday, August 14, 2017 2:14 PM

  When a user creates a view from multiple tables, the data from it gets stored somewhere.

  Nope, the data does not get stored anywhere. The view is stored solely as the statement that defines it. When you run a query against a view, during the parsing process the view's name is replaced by its definition and the resulting query is what's run.

  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

  We walk in the dark places no others will enter
  We stand on the bridge and no one may pass