Understanding SQL Server Temporal Table for Devs

Hello, Dev! We understand how important it is for you to keep track of your data changes over time. This is where SQL Server Temporal Tables step in. With its ability to keep track of the data changes and making it easier for you to audit them, this feature has caused quite a stir in the database community. In this article, we’ll dive into understanding SQL Server Temporal Tables and how it can help you manage your database efficiently.

What are SQL Server Temporal Tables?

SQL Server Temporal Tables, also known as System-Versioned Tables, are a feature introduced in SQL Server 2016. This feature allows you to store the entire history of your data changes, making it easier for you to track the changes and perform audits. In simpler terms, it is essentially a table that helps you keep track of all the changes made to it and stores them in a separate table.

But how does it work? Well, every time a change is made to the data in the temporal table, instead of updating the existing record, it would insert a new record with the same primary key and a time range, indicating when the data was active. This helps in maintaining a full history of all the changes made to that particular record.

Benefits of SQL Server Temporal Tables

Now that we know what SQL Server Temporal Tables are, let’s dive into the benefits that it offers to every developer, such as:

1. Improved Data Auditing

SQL Server Temporal Tables allow you to keep track of all data changes, making auditing a breeze. You can easily compare data from different periods and ensure that all data changes comply with your internal policies, regulations, and legal requirements.

2. Data Recovery

Temporal Tables make it easier to recover lost data, as it keeps a full history of all the changes made to the data. You can easily pinpoint when the data was deleted or updated, and recover it from the previous state.

3. High Accuracy

The feature ensures high data accuracy by providing historical data, along with current data. You can analyze the data trends and perform data analytics easily, without the need to perform any complicated queries.

4. Seamless Integration with Applications

You can use temporal tables in your application just like any other table, and simply query them as you would any other table. This eliminates the need for any additional coding, making it easier to integrate into your applications.

5. Reduced Development Time

Temporal Tables make it easier for developers to track data changes, thus reducing the time required for development. It ensures faster database development and maintenance, and provides a cost-effective solution for developers.

How to Create SQL Server Temporal Tables?

Creating a temporal table is as simple as creating a regular table. Here’s how:

FAQs

Q1. Can we use SQL Server Temporal Tables with other databases?

No, this feature is only available in SQL Server 2016 and above. You cannot use it with other databases.

Q2. Can we disable System-Versioning once it’s enabled?

Yes, you can disable the system-versioning feature on a temporal table using the “WITH (SYSTEM_VERSIONING = OFF)” clause.

Q3. Can we use Temporal Tables with both DML and DDL operations?

Yes, you can use Temporal Tables with both DML and DDL operations. However, altering a temporal table requires some additional steps, such as disabling system-versioning before making any changes.

Q4. What is the storage impact of using Temporal Tables?

The storage impact of Temporal Tables is negligible, as it uses a separate table to store the history of the data changes. It is essentially the same as storing two tables separately, thus not impacting the storage size.

Q5. Can we use Temporal Tables with partitioning?

Yes, you can use Temporal Tables with partitioning. However, you need to ensure that the history table has the same partition scheme as the main table to ensure proper functionality.

Conclusion

SQL Server Temporal Tables are an excellent feature that can help you track your data changes and ensure high data accuracy. Whether you’re performing data audits or ensuring regulatory compliance, Temporal Tables provide a cost-effective solution for every developer. We hope this article helped you understand the concept of SQL Server Temporal Tables and how it can help you manage your database efficiently. Happy coding!