What is dbo?

  • Why do some do this Database..Table instead of Database.dbo.Table. Which one is a good practice?

    What is dbo?

    Thanks

  • dbo is the schema name. Those two are identical, the .. is a shortcut for .dbo.

    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
  • GilaMonster (8/7/2013)


    dbo is the schema name. Those two are identical, the .. is a shortcut for .dbo.

    Gail doesn't this actually shortcut to the current user's default schema? Of course that is most often dbo but it doesn't have to be.

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  • Sean Lange (8/7/2013)


    GilaMonster (8/7/2013)


    dbo is the schema name. Those two are identical, the .. is a shortcut for .dbo.

    Gail doesn't this actually shortcut to the current user's default schema? Of course that is most often dbo but it doesn't have to be.

    Err.... I think it's dbo. Easy to test if you want.

    It's not something I'd recommend putting in production code, it's not that clear what's going on. For quick demos or ad-hoc queries, sire.

    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
  • GilaMonster (8/7/2013)


    Sean Lange (8/7/2013)


    GilaMonster (8/7/2013)


    dbo is the schema name. Those two are identical, the .. is a shortcut for .dbo.

    Gail doesn't this actually shortcut to the current user's default schema? Of course that is most often dbo but it doesn't have to be.

    Err.... I think it's dbo. Easy to test if you want.

    It's not something I'd recommend putting in production code, it's not that clear what's going on. For quick demos or ad-hoc queries, sire.

    Yeah I figured I would check it out. It does in fact map to the default schema for the current user.

    I totally agree that it is not something I would use in production.

    _______________________________________________________________

    Need help? Help us help you.

    Read the article at http://www.sqlservercentral.com/articles/Best+Practices/61537/ for best practices on asking questions.

    Need to split a string? Try Jeff Modens splitter http://www.sqlservercentral.com/articles/Tally+Table/72993/.

    Cross Tabs and Pivots, Part 1 – Converting Rows to Columns - http://www.sqlservercentral.com/articles/T-SQL/63681/
    Cross Tabs and Pivots, Part 2 - Dynamic Cross Tabs - http://www.sqlservercentral.com/articles/Crosstab/65048/
    Understanding and Using APPLY (Part 1) - http://www.sqlservercentral.com/articles/APPLY/69953/
    Understanding and Using APPLY (Part 2) - http://www.sqlservercentral.com/articles/APPLY/69954/

  • Sean Lange (8/7/2013)


    GilaMonster (8/7/2013)


    Sean Lange (8/7/2013)


    GilaMonster (8/7/2013)


    dbo is the schema name. Those two are identical, the .. is a shortcut for .dbo.

    Gail doesn't this actually shortcut to the current user's default schema? Of course that is most often dbo but it doesn't have to be.

    Err.... I think it's dbo. Easy to test if you want.

    It's not something I'd recommend putting in production code, it's not that clear what's going on. For quick demos or ad-hoc queries, sire.

    Yeah I figured I would check it out. It does in fact map to the default schema for the current user.

    Which makes it even more risky to use in production code.

    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
  • Thank you all.

  • That would also make for a bit slower code, IIRC. Without 2 part naming, it searchs for the object using the current user schema. If it doesn't find one, (again, IIRC), it searches Master. When it doesn't find one there, then it finally give "dbo" a shot in the current databasse. Those excursions don't mean much on the start of a long running batch proc (for exammple) but they could represent some unneed resource usage if the proc (or other object) is referenced/called by front end code that executes, say, 10,000 times a day.

    --Jeff Moden


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  • Jeff Moden (8/7/2013)


    That would also make for a bit slower code, IIRC. Without 2 part naming, it searchs for the object using the current user schema. If it doesn't find one, (again, IIRC), it searches Master. When it doesn't find one there, then it finally give "dbo" a shot in the current databasse. Those excursions don't mean much on the start of a long running batch proc (for exammple) but they could represent some unneed resource usage if the proc (or other object) is referenced/called by front end code that executes, say, 10,000 times a day.

    There is another issue to consider - that is the plan cache. When you either don't specify the schema - or use the .. syntax, if each user has a different default schema from dbo you will get multiple plans. You would end up with a plan for each schema...

    Jeffrey Williams
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  • Jeffrey Williams 3188 (8/8/2013)


    Jeff Moden (8/7/2013)


    That would also make for a bit slower code, IIRC. Without 2 part naming, it searchs for the object using the current user schema. If it doesn't find one, (again, IIRC), it searches Master. When it doesn't find one there, then it finally give "dbo" a shot in the current databasse. Those excursions don't mean much on the start of a long running batch proc (for exammple) but they could represent some unneed resource usage if the proc (or other object) is referenced/called by front end code that executes, say, 10,000 times a day.

    There is another issue to consider - that is the plan cache. When you either don't specify the schema - or use the .. syntax, if each user has a different default schema from dbo you will get multiple plans. You would end up with a plan for each schema...

    Not sure I follow what you mean about getting multiple plans. I guess if objects with the same name resided in multiple schemas that would be the case but in that case it is an entirely different query that would require a new plan anyway.

    _______________________________________________________________

    Need help? Help us help you.

    Read the article at http://www.sqlservercentral.com/articles/Best+Practices/61537/ for best practices on asking questions.

    Need to split a string? Try Jeff Modens splitter http://www.sqlservercentral.com/articles/Tally+Table/72993/.

    Cross Tabs and Pivots, Part 1 – Converting Rows to Columns - http://www.sqlservercentral.com/articles/T-SQL/63681/
    Cross Tabs and Pivots, Part 2 - Dynamic Cross Tabs - http://www.sqlservercentral.com/articles/Crosstab/65048/
    Understanding and Using APPLY (Part 1) - http://www.sqlservercentral.com/articles/APPLY/69953/
    Understanding and Using APPLY (Part 2) - http://www.sqlservercentral.com/articles/APPLY/69954/

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