OBJECT_DEFINITION (Transact-SQL)

object_id

Is the ID of the object to be used. object_id is int, and assumed to represent an object in the current database context.

nvarchar(max)

Returns NULL on error or if a caller does not have permission to view the object.

A user can only view the metadata of securables that the user owns or on which the user has been granted permission. This means that metadata-emitting, built-in functions such as OBJECT_DEFINITION may return NULL if the user does not have any permission on the object. For more information, see Metadata Visibility Configuration.

The SQL Server Database Engine assumes that object_id is in the current database context. The collation of the object definition always matches that of the calling database context.

OBJECT_DEFINITION applies to the following object types:

• C = Check constraint

• D = Default (constraint or stand-alone)

• P = SQL stored procedure

• FN = SQL scalar function

• R = Rule

• RF = Replication filter procedure

• TR = SQL trigger (schema-scoped DML trigger, or DDL trigger at either the database or server scope)

• IF = SQL inline table-valued function

• TF = SQL table-valued function

• V = View

System object definitions are publicly visible. The definition of user objects is visible to the object owner or grantees that have any one of the following permissions: ALTER, CONTROL, TAKE OWNERSHIP, or VIEW DEFINITION. These permissions are implicitly held by members of the db_owner, db_ddladmin, and db_securityadmin fixed database roles.

A. Returning the source text of a user-defined object

USE AdventureWorks2012;
GO
SELECT OBJECT_DEFINITION (OBJECT_ID(N'Person.uAddress')) AS [Trigger Definition]; 
GO

B. Returning the source text of a system object

USE AdventureWorks2012;
GO
SELECT OBJECT_DEFINITION (OBJECT_ID(N'sys.sp_columns')) AS [Object Definition];
GO

Reference