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?

T‑SQL BULK INSERT vs OPENROWSET: CSV Imports, File Access Gotchas, and A PowerShell Script

Most SQL bulk insert and SQL Server openrowset tutorials skip file access issues that can stop imports cold. Both the bulk insert statement and openrowset function rely on the SQL Server service account to read a source file. The SQL Server service account must have read permission on the file or its folder. It is also convenient to have read & execute as well as list folder content permissions.

PWDCompare

Use SQL to Find a String in Database Tables, Stored Procedures, and User Defined Functions

Searching for a string in database tables has been discussed over the years. There are several approaches to the problem (see References at the end of the article). See how to use SQL to find a string in different types of SQL Server objects and data.

Who am I?

The New SQL Server 2025 Data type

The Tightly Linked View

Revisiting SQL Server Window Functions- A Practical Walkthrough

A look at window functions in SQL and how they can be used to query data without the restrictions of a GROUP BY.

How to Increase SQL Server Column Width Without IO (Input/Output) Overhead

This article dives into a fun (and interesting!) strategy for widening fixed-width columns in SQL Server, to reduce downtime, risk, and runtime at the time when a column’s data type needs to be changed.

Tables with a SPARSE Column and Consumption