What is the difference between SET and SELECT?

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YOGIG SSC Enthusiast Points: 174 More actions · Answer 1

I hope you are refering to the usage of these commands with variables.

The SET command is generally used when you have a know fixed value that you want to assign to a variable.

If you want to set up the variable dynamically or you want to set the variable with a value derived with a SQL querry you use select clause.

Eg.

Use Northwind

Declare @name sysname

-- Set value

Set @name = 'Region'

--Select

Select @name = name from sysobjects where id = '885578193'

Both the statements will set the name to Region

Thanks

sholliday SSCrazy Points: 2100 More actions · Answer 2

I'm kinda pulling this from the memory banks, but here goes.

SQL Server 4.2 and 6.5 were based on Sybase code (I think).

Sql Server 7.0 was the first all Microsoft version.

I think SET and SELECT were for backwards compatiability.

I ?think SET was the sybase one.

Well, maybe that'll get you started if you really want to know.

I think I use SELECT now. Because of the "@" symbol, you always know whether you're setting a variable, or running a query.

..

mgabriele SSC Enthusiast Points: 171 More actions · Answer 3

I also believe that the an assignment select entails the creation of a resultset vs. using the set statement.