Hello and welcome to this journal article on “Set Nocount in SQL Server”. In this article, we will be discussing everything about the Set Nocount statement in SQL Server. SQL Server is one of the most popular database management systems used by businesses worldwide. It has a vast range of functionalities that help businesses manage their data efficiently. One of the essential functionalities of SQL Server is “Set Nocount”. This statement is widely used in SQL Server to improve the performance of T-SQL Scripts. Let’s dive deep into the topic.
What is Set Nocount in SQL Server?
Set Nocount is a statement used in SQL Server to control the messages sent to the client concerning the number of rows affected by a Transact-SQL statement. When the Set Nocount statement is set to “On”, the server will not send the message that shows the count of the number of rows affected by the statement. The Set Nocount statement is set to “Off” by default. By using this statement, the performance of T-SQL Scripts can be improved significantly.
How to Use Set Nocount in SQL Server
To use Set Nocount in SQL Server, we need to follow some basic syntax. The syntax is as follows:
| Set Nocount Syntax |
|---|
SET NOCOUNT { ON | OFF } |
The Set Nocount statement can be set to “On” or “Off”. When the statement is set to “On”, the server will not send the messages that show the count of the number of rows affected by the statement. When the statement is set to “Off”, the server will send the messages that show the count of the number of rows affected by the statement.
Why Use Set Nocount in SQL Server
The Set Nocount statement is used in SQL Server to enhance the performance of T-SQL Scripts. When a Transact-SQL statement is executed, SQL Server sends a message to the client that shows the count of the number of rows affected by the statement. This message is sent for every statement executed, which can cause network traffic. In some cases, this can slow down the performance of T-SQL Scripts. By using Set Nocount, we can avoid the messages sent to the client and improve the performance of T-SQL Scripts.
Set Nocount Examples
Example 1: Set Nocount On
The following example shows how to use Set Nocount to turn off messages that show the count of the number of rows affected by a Transact-SQL statement:
| Example 1: Set Nocount On |
|---|
SET NOCOUNT ON; |
In this example, the Set Nocount statement is set to “On”. When this statement is executed, the server will not send the messages that show the count of the number of rows affected by the Transact-SQL statement.
Example 2: Set Nocount Off
The following example shows how to use Set Nocount to turn on messages that show the count of the number of rows affected by a Transact-SQL statement:
| Example 2: Set Nocount Off |
|---|
SET NOCOUNT OFF; |
In this example, the Set Nocount statement is set to “Off”. When this statement is executed, the server will send the messages that show the count of the number of rows affected by the Transact-SQL statement.
Example 3: Using Set Nocount with a Stored Procedure
The following example shows how to use Set Nocount with a stored procedure:
| Example 3: Using Set Nocount with a Stored Procedure |
|---|
CREATE PROCEDURE MyStoredProcedure AS
|
In this example, we have created a stored procedure named “MyStoredProcedure”. The Set Nocount statement is set to “On” before executing the SELECT statement. This avoids the messages sent to the client that show the count of the number of rows affected by the SELECT statement. Once the SELECT statement is executed, the Set Nocount statement is set to “Off” to send the messages that show the count of the number of rows affected by the stored procedure.
Set Nocount Best Practices
Following are some best practices while using Set Nocount in SQL Server:
Best Practice 1: Use Set Nocount in Large Scripts
Set Nocount statement is recommended to be used in large scripts where performance is crucial. The execution of T-SQL Scripts depends on the network traffic generated by the messages sent to the client. By turning off these messages, we can significantly improve the performance of T-SQL Scripts.
Best Practice 2: Use Set Nocount in Stored Procedures
Set Nocount statement is also recommended to be used in stored procedures. As we saw in Example 3, we can use Set Nocount to turn off the messages sent to the client that show the count of the number of rows affected by a Transact-SQL statement. This can enhance the performance of stored procedures.
Best Practice 3: Avoid Using Set Nocount in Small Scripts
It is not recommended to use Set Nocount in small scripts. When we use Set Nocount in small scripts, we may not see any significant performance improvements. Moreover, Set Nocount may cause issues with some applications that depend on the messages sent to the client.
FAQs
What is the use of Set Nocount in SQL Server?
Set Nocount is used in SQL Server to improve the performance of T-SQL Scripts. By turning off the messages sent to the client that show the count of the number of rows affected by a Transact-SQL statement, we can reduce network traffic and significantly improve the performance of T-SQL Scripts.
What are the advantages of using Set Nocount in SQL Server?
The advantages of using Set Nocount in SQL Server are:
- It helps to enhance performance by avoiding messages sent to the client.
- It helps to reduce network traffic.
- It is easy to use.
What are the disadvantages of using Set Nocount in SQL Server?
The disadvantages of using Set Nocount in SQL Server are:
- It may cause issues with some applications that depend on the messages sent to the client.
- It may not show the count of the number of rows affected by a Transact-SQL statement, which can make debugging difficult.
Can we use Set Nocount with a SELECT statement?
Yes, we can use Set Nocount with a SELECT statement. When we use Set Nocount with a SELECT statement, the server will not send the messages that show the count of the number of rows affected by the SELECT statement.
Does Set Nocount affect the functionality of a Transact-SQL statement?
No, Set Nocount does not affect the functionality of a Transact-SQL statement. It only affects the messages sent to the client that show the count of the number of rows affected by the statement.
What is the default state of Set Nocount in SQL Server?
The default state of Set Nocount in SQL Server is “Off”.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Set Nocount is a statement used in SQL Server to control the messages sent to the client concerning the number of rows affected by a Transact-SQL statement. By using this statement, we can improve the performance of T-SQL Scripts significantly. In this article, we discussed everything about Set Nocount, including its syntax, examples, best practices, and FAQs. We hope this article was beneficial to you in understanding the use of Set Nocount in SQL Server.