TSQL Interview Questions And Answers

If you are looking for a job that is related to TSQL, you need to prepare for the

2020 TSQL Interview Questions. Though every interview is different and the

scope of a job is also different, we can help you out with the top TSQL

Interview Questions and answers, which will help you take the leap and get

you success in your TSQL Interview.

Below is the list of Important 2020 TSQL Interview Questions that are asked

mostly in an interview

 
Part #1 – TSQL Interview Questions And Answers
(Basic)
Below are the basic interview questions and answers

1. Explain what is T-SQL?

Answer:

T-SQL stands for Transact-Structured Query Language, which is an extension

of SQL functionality supported by Microsoft SQL Server and Sybase ASE.

2. Explain what are the differences between SQL and T-
SQL?
Answer:

The difference between T-SQL and SQL is that SQL is a query language to

operate on sets, while TSQL is a proprietary procedural language used by MS

SQL Server. Also, T-SQL has a different implementation of DELETE and

UPDATE than SQL.

3. Please name at least five commands which can

manipulate text in the T-SQL code. For example,
replace a text string, obtain a portion of the text, etc.
Answer:

•LEFT(character_expression, integer_expression ) – It returns the left part of

a character expression with the specified number of characters.

•CHARINDEX( findTextData, text data, [startingPosition] ) – It returns

starting position of an expression in a character string, and starting position is

optional.

•REPLACE( textData, findTextData, replaceWithTextData ) – It replaces a

new value for occurrences of text found in the string.

•REVERSE( character_expression ) – It returns reverse of a character

expression.

•LEN( textData ) – It returns the length of the string, excluding trailing blanks.

•LOWER ( character_expression ) – After converting an uppercase character

to lowercase it will return a character expression.

•LTRIM( textData) – Leading blanks will be removed.

•PATINDEX( findTextData, textData ) – It returns the starting position

integer value of text found in the string.

•REPLICATE(character_expression, integer_expression ) – It repeats a

character expression for a specified number of times.

•RTRIM( textData) – Removes trailing blanks. SPACE( number of spaces ) – It

repeats space value specified number of times.

•STUFF( textData, start, length, insert text data ) – It deletes a specified

length of characters and inserts another set of characters at a specified

starting point.

•SUBSTRING( textData, startPosition, length ) – It returns portion of the

string.

•UPPER( character_expression ) – It returns a character expression with

lowercase character to uppercase.

4. Is it possible to import data directly from T-SQL
commands without using SQL Server Integration
Services? If so, what are the commands?
Answer:

Yes – There are Six commands available to import data directly into the T-SQL

language. These commands include:

•BCP

•Bulk Insert

•OpenRowSet

•OPENDATASOURCE

•OPENQUERY

•Linked Servers

5. Mention what is ‘GO’ in T-SQL?

Answer:

‘GO’ is not a Transact-SQL statement but a batch separator. It is a command

identified by the sqlcmd and osql utilities and SQL Server Management Studio

Code editor. SQL Server utilities read “GO” as a signal that they should send

the current batch of TSQL statements to an instance of SQL Server.

6. Mention the difference between DELETE statement
and TRUNCATE statement?
Answer:

With the use of DELETE and TRUNCATE command, all data will be lost in a

table. The difference between DELETE statement and TRUNCATE statement is

that,

•DELETE is used for conditional removal of data records from Tables. These

operations are logged.

•TRUNCATE is used for the unconditional removal of data records from Tables.

Truncate operations are not logged. (Advanced)

Below are the advanced interview questions and answers

[Link] to use COALESCE() & ISNULL() Functions?

Answer:

The NULLability of result expression is different for ISNULL and COALESCE. The

ISNULL return value is always considered NOT NULLable (assuming the return

value is a non-nullable one) whereas COALESCE is not. So the expressions

ISNULL(NULL, 1) and COALESCE(NULL, 1) although equivalent has different

NULLability values. This makes a difference if you are using these expressions

in computed columns and creating key constraints or making return value of a

scalar UDF deterministic so that it can be indexed.

8. Mention what is sub-query?

Answer:

A sub-query is used to return data that will be used in the main query as a

condition to further restrict the data to be retrieved. A sub-query can be used

with the statements like Update, select, delete and insert with the operators

like =, >, <, >=,<=, etc

9. What are the types of XML indexes in SQL Server?

Answer:

Microsoft SQL Server supports different types of XML indexes. An XML index is

different than a relational index. There are basically TWO types of XML Indexes

viz., Primary XML Indexes and Secondary XML indexes. The primary XML index

is a clustered index on an internal table known as the node table that users

cannot use directly from their T-SQL statements. To enhance search

performance, we create secondary XML indexes. These create secondary links

(RID) at leaf level for existing clustered index based KEY pages. A primary XML

index should be created prior to creating the Secondary XML Indexes.

10. What is SQL Server?

Answer:

SQL Server is a vast, easy, powerful Relational Database Management (also

Data warehouse Management) application from Microsoft. It offers Database

Development, Database Management, and Business Intelligence capabilities.

This wonderful technology is very easy to master and manage. This offers the

following advantages:

•Easy To Use

•Support for Small, Medium and Large Database Storage

•Cheaper, compared to other RDBMS

•Data warehouse Support

•Enhanced Security Features

•Enterprise Feature Support

•In-Memory Processing

•Business Intelligence Support

•Highly Scalable and Powerful

•Low Cost of Ownership

11. Mention new error handling commands which are

introduced with the SQL Server 2005 and beyond?
What commands did they replace? How are they
command used?
Answer:

The new commands introduce with SQL Server 2005 are TRY and CATCH.

Though they do not replace directly any specific command, but in many

aspects TRY and CATCH can be used instead of RAISERROR. The TRY block

covers business logic whereas the CATCH logic is for capturing the error.

12. Mention what is TOP in TSQL?

Answer:

TOP limits the rows returned in a query result set to a specified number of

rows or percentage of rows in SQL Server. When TOP is used in combination

with the ORDER BY clause, the result set is limited to the first N number of

ordered rows. Otherwise, it retrieves the first N number of rows in an

undefined order.