sys.fn_builtin_permissions (Transact-SQL)

Applies to: SQL Server Azure SQL Database Azure SQL Managed Instance

Returns a description of the built in permissions hierarchy of the server. sys.fn_builtin_permissions can only be called on SQL Server and Azure SQL Database, and it returns all permissions regardless of whether they are supported on the current platform. Most permissions apply to all platforms, but some do not. For example server level permissions cannot be granted on SQL Database. For information about which platforms support each permission, see Permissions (Database Engine).

Transact-SQL syntax conventions

Syntax

sys.fn_builtin_permissions ( [ DEFAULT | NULL ]
    | empty_string | '<securable_class>' } )
  
<securable_class> ::=
      APPLICATION ROLE | ASSEMBLY | ASYMMETRIC KEY | AVAILABILITY GROUP
    | CERTIFICATE | CONTRACT | DATABASE | DATABASE SCOPED CREDENTIAL
    | ENDPOINT | FULLTEXT CATALOG | FULLTEXT STOPLIST | LOGIN
    | MESSAGE TYPE | OBJECT | REMOTE SERVICE BINDING | ROLE | ROUTE
    | SCHEMA | SEARCH PROPERTY LIST | SERVER | SERVER ROLE | SERVICE
    | SYMMETRIC KEY | TYPE | USER | XML SCHEMA COLLECTION

Arguments

[ DEFAULT | NULL ]

When it is called with the DEFAULT option (without quotes), the function will return a complete list of built in permissions.

NULL is equivalent to DEFAULT.

empty_string

Equivalent to DEFAULT.

'<securable_class>'

When called with the name of one securable class, sys.fn_builtin_permissions will return all permissions that apply to the class. '<securable_class>' is a string literal of type nvarchar(60) that requires quotation marks.

Tables returned

Column name Data type Collation Description
class_desc nvarchar(60) Collation of the server Description of the securable class.
permission_name nvarchar(60) Collation of the server Permission name.
type varchar(4) Collation of the server Compact permission type code. See the table that follows.
covering_permission_name nvarchar(60) Collation of the server If not NULL, this is the name of the permission on this class that implies the other permissions on this class.
parent_class_desc nvarchar(60) Collation of the server If not NULL, this is the name of the parent class that contains the current class.
parent_covering_permission_name nvarchar(60) Collation of the server If not NULL, this is the name of the permission on the parent class that implies all other permissions on that class.

Permission types

Permission type Permission name Applies to securable or class
AADS ALTER ANY DATABASE EVENT SESSION

Applies to: SQL Server 2014 (12.x) and later versions.
DATABASE
AAES ALTER ANY EVENT SESSION SERVER
AAMK ALTER ANY MASK

Applies to: SQL Server 2016 (13.x) and later versions.
DATABASE
ADBO ADMINISTER BULK OPERATIONS SERVER
AEDS ALTER ANY EXTERNAL DATA SOURCE

Applies to: SQL Server 2016 (13.x) and later versions.
DATABASE
AEFF ALTER ANY EXTERNAL FILE FORMAT

Applies to: SQL Server 2016 (13.x) and later versions.
DATABASE
AL ALTER APPLICATION ROLE
AL ALTER ASSEMBLY
AL ALTER

Applies to: SQL Server 2012 (11.x) and later versions.
AVAILABILITY GROUP
AL ALTER ASYMMETRIC KEY
AL ALTER CERTIFICATE
AL ALTER CONTRACT
AL ALTER DATABASE
AL ALTER

Applies to: SQL Server 2017 (14.x) and later versions, and Azure SQL Database.
DATABASE SCOPED CREDENTIAL
AL ALTER ENDPOINT
AL ALTER FULLTEXT CATALOG
AL ALTER FULLTEXT STOPLIST
AL ALTER LOGIN
AL ALTER MESSAGE TYPE
AL ALTER OBJECT
AL ALTER REMOTE SERVICE BINDING
AL ALTER ROLE
AL ALTER ROUTE
AL ALTER SCHEMA
AL ALTER SEARCH PROPERTY LIST
AL ALTER

Applies to: SQL Server 2012 (11.x) and later versions.
SERVER ROLE
AL ALTER SERVICE
AL ALTER SYMMETRIC KEY
AL ALTER USER
AL ALTER XML SCHEMA COLLECTION
ALAA ALTER ANY SERVER AUDIT SERVER
ALAG ALTER ANY AVAILABILITY GROUP

Applies to: SQL Server 2012 (11.x) and later versions.
SERVER
ALAK ALTER ANY ASYMMETRIC KEY DATABASE
ALAR ALTER ANY APPLICATION ROLE DATABASE
ALAS ALTER ANY ASSEMBLY DATABASE
ALCD ALTER ANY CREDENTIAL SERVER
ALCF ALTER ANY CERTIFICATE DATABASE
ALCK ALTER ANY COLUMN ENCRYPTION KEY

Applies to: SQL Server 2016 (13.x) and later versions.
DATABASE
ALCM ALTER ANY COLUMN MASTER KEY

Applies to: SQL Server 2016 (13.x) and later versions.
DATABASE
ALCO ALTER ANY CONNECTION SERVER
ALDA ALTER ANY DATABASE AUDIT DATABASE
ALDB ALTER ANY DATABASE SERVER
ALDC ALTER ANY DATABASE SCOPED CONFIGURATION

Applies to: SQL Server 2016 (13.x) and later versions.
DATABASE
ALDS ALTER ANY DATASPACE DATABASE
ALED ALTER ANY DATABASE EVENT NOTIFICATION DATABASE
ALES ALTER ANY EVENT NOTIFICATION SERVER
ALFT ALTER ANY FULLTEXT CATALOG DATABASE
ALHE ALTER ANY ENDPOINT SERVER
ALLG ALTER ANY LOGIN SERVER
ALLS ALTER ANY LINKED SERVER SERVER
ALMT ALTER ANY MESSAGE TYPE DATABASE
ALRL ALTER ANY ROLE DATABASE
ALRS ALTER RESOURCES SERVER
ALRT ALTER ANY ROUTE DATABASE
ALSB ALTER ANY REMOTE SERVICE BINDING DATABASE
ALSC ALTER ANY CONTRACT DATABASE
ALSK ALTER ANY SYMMETRIC KEY DATABASE
ALSM ALTER ANY SCHEMA DATABASE
ALSP ALTER ANY SECURITY POLICY

Applies to: SQL Server 2016 (13.x) and later versions.
DATABASE
ALSR ALTER ANY SERVER ROLE

Applies to: SQL Server 2012 (11.x) and later versions.
SERVER
ALSS ALTER SERVER STATE SERVER
ALST ALTER SETTINGS SERVER
ALSV ALTER ANY SERVICE DATABASE
ALTG ALTER ANY DATABASE DDL TRIGGER DATABASE
ALTR ALTER TRACE SERVER
ALUS ALTER ANY USER DATABASE
AUTH AUTHENTICATE DATABASE
AUTH AUTHENTICATE SERVER SERVER
BADB BACKUP DATABASE DATABASE
BALO BACKUP LOG DATABASE
CADB CONNECT ANY DATABASE

Applies to: SQL Server 2014 (12.x) and later versions.
SERVER
CL CONTROL APPLICATION ROLE
CL CONTROL ASSEMBLY
CL CONTROL ASYMMETRIC KEY
CL CONTROL

Applies to: SQL Server 2012 (11.x) and later versions.
AVAILABILITY GROUP
CL CONTROL CERTIFICATE
CL CONTROL CONTRACT
CL CONTROL DATABASE
CL CONTROL

Applies to: SQL Server 2017 (14.x) and later versions, and Azure SQL Database.
DATABASE SCOPED CREDENTIAL
CL CONTROL ENDPOINT
CL CONTROL FULLTEXT CATALOG
CL CONTROL FULLTEXT STOPLIST
CL CONTROL LOGIN
CL CONTROL MESSAGE TYPE
CL CONTROL OBJECT
CL CONTROL REMOTE SERVICE BINDING
CL CONTROL ROLE
CL CONTROL ROUTE
CL CONTROL SCHEMA
CL CONTROL SEARCH PROPERTY LIST
CL CONTROL SERVER SERVER
CL CONTROL

Applies to: SQL Server 2012 (11.x) and later versions.
SERVER ROLE
CL CONTROL SERVICE
CL CONTROL SYMMETRIC KEY
CL CONTROL TYPE
CL CONTROL USER
CL CONTROL XML SCHEMA COLLECTION
CO CONNECT DATABASE
CO CONNECT ENDPOINT
CORP CONNECT REPLICATION DATABASE
COSQ CONNECT SQL SERVER
CP CHECKPOINT DATABASE
CRAC CREATE AVAILABILITY GROUP

Applies to: SQL Server 2012 (11.x) and later versions.
SERVER
CRAG CREATE AGGREGATE DATABASE
CRAK CREATE ASYMMETRIC KEY DATABASE
CRAS CREATE ASSEMBLY DATABASE
CRCF CREATE CERTIFICATE DATABASE
CRDB CREATE ANY DATABASE SERVER
CRDB CREATE DATABASE DATABASE
CRDE CREATE DDL EVENT NOTIFICATION SERVER
CRDF CREATE DEFAULT DATABASE
CRED CREATE DATABASE DDL EVENT NOTIFICATION DATABASE
CRFN CREATE FUNCTION DATABASE
CRFT CREATE FULLTEXT CATALOG DATABASE
CRHE CREATE ENDPOINT SERVER
CRMT CREATE MESSAGE TYPE DATABASE
CRPR CREATE PROCEDURE DATABASE
CRQU CREATE QUEUE DATABASE
CRRL CREATE ROLE DATABASE
CRRT CREATE ROUTE DATABASE
CRRU CREATE RULE DATABASE
CRSB CREATE REMOTE SERVICE BINDING DATABASE
CRSC CREATE CONTRACT DATABASE
CRSK CREATE SYMMETRIC KEY DATABASE
CRSM CREATE SCHEMA DATABASE
CRSN CREATE SYNONYM DATABASE
CRSO CREATE SEQUENCE SCHEMA
CRSR CREATE SERVER ROLE

Applies to: SQL Server 2012 (11.x) and later versions.
SERVER
CRSV CREATE SERVICE DATABASE
CRTB CREATE TABLE DATABASE
CRTE CREATE TRACE EVENT NOTIFICATION SERVER
CRTY CREATE TYPE DATABASE
CRVW CREATE VIEW DATABASE
CRXS CREATE XML SCHEMA COLLECTION DATABASE
DABO ADMINISTER DATABASE BULK OPERATIONS

Applies to: SQL Database.
DATABASE
DL DELETE DATABASE
DL DELETE OBJECT
DL DELETE SCHEMA
EAES EXECUTE ANY EXTERNAL SCRIPT

Applies to: SQL Server 2016 (13.x) and later versions.
DATABASE
EX EXECUTE DATABASE
EX EXECUTE OBJECT
EX EXECUTE SCHEMA
EX EXECUTE TYPE
EX EXECUTE XML SCHEMA COLLECTION
IAL IMPERSONATE ANY LOGIN

Applies to: SQL Server 2014 (12.x) and later versions.
SERVER
IM IMPERSONATE LOGIN
IM IMPERSONATE USER
IN INSERT DATABASE
IN INSERT OBJECT
IN INSERT SCHEMA
KIDC KILL DATABASE CONNECTION

Applies to: Azure SQL Database.
DATABASE
RC RECEIVE OBJECT
RF REFERENCES ASSEMBLY
RF REFERENCES ASYMMETRIC KEY
RF REFERENCES CERTIFICATE
RF REFERENCES CONTRACT
RF REFERENCES DATABASE
RF REFERENCES

Applies to: SQL Server 2017 (14.x) and later versions, and Azure SQL Database.
DATABASE SCOPED CREDENTIAL
RF REFERENCES FULLTEXT CATALOG
RF REFERENCES FULLTEXT STOPLIST
RF REFERENCES SEARCH PROPERTY LIST
RF REFERENCES MESSAGE TYPE
RF REFERENCES OBJECT
RF REFERENCES SCHEMA
RF REFERENCES SYMMETRIC KEY
RF REFERENCES TYPE
RF REFERENCES XML SCHEMA COLLECTION
SHDN SHUTDOWN SERVER
SL SELECT DATABASE
SL SELECT OBJECT
SL SELECT SCHEMA
SN SEND SERVICE
SPLN SHOWPLAN DATABASE
SUQN SUBSCRIBE QUERY NOTIFICATIONS DATABASE
SUS SELECT ALL USER SECURABLES

Applies to: SQL Server 2014 (12.x) and later versions.
SERVER
TO TAKE OWNERSHIP ASSEMBLY
TO TAKE OWNERSHIP ASYMMETRIC KEY
TO TAKE OWNERSHIP

Applies to: SQL Server 2012 (11.x) and later versions.
AVAILABILITY GROUP
TO TAKE OWNERSHIP CERTIFICATE
TO TAKE OWNERSHIP CONTRACT
TO TAKE OWNERSHIP DATABASE
TO TAKE OWNERSHIP

Applies to: SQL Server 2017 (14.x) and later versions, and Azure SQL Database.
DATABASE SCOPED CREDENTIAL
TO TAKE OWNERSHIP ENDPOINT
TO TAKE OWNERSHIP FULLTEXT CATALOG
TO TAKE OWNERSHIP FULLTEXT STOPLIST
TO TAKE OWNERSHIP SEARCH PROPERTY LIST
TO TAKE OWNERSHIP MESSAGE TYPE
TO TAKE OWNERSHIP OBJECT
TO TAKE OWNERSHIP REMOTE SERVICE BINDING
TO TAKE OWNERSHIP ROLE
TO TAKE OWNERSHIP ROUTE
TO TAKE OWNERSHIP SCHEMA
TO TAKE OWNERSHIP

Applies to: SQL Server 2012 (11.x) and later versions.
SERVER ROLE
TO TAKE OWNERSHIP SERVICE
TO TAKE OWNERSHIP SYMMETRIC KEY
TO TAKE OWNERSHIP TYPE
TO TAKE OWNERSHIP XML SCHEMA COLLECTION
UMSK UNMASK

Applies to: SQL Server 2016 (13.x) and later versions.
DATABASE
UP UPDATE DATABASE
UP UPDATE OBJECT
UP UPDATE SCHEMA
VW VIEW DEFINITION APPLICATION ROLE
VW VIEW DEFINITION ASSEMBLY
VW VIEW DEFINITION ASYMMETRIC KEY
VW VIEW DEFINITION

Applies to: SQL Server 2012 (11.x) and later versions.
AVAILABILITY GROUP
VW VIEW DEFINITION CERTIFICATE
VW VIEW DEFINITION CONTRACT
VW VIEW DEFINITION DATABASE
VW VIEW DEFINITION

Applies to: SQL Server 2017 (14.x) and later versions, and Azure SQL Database.
DATABASE SCOPED CREDENTIAL
VW VIEW DEFINITION ENDPOINT
VW VIEW DEFINITION FULLTEXT CATALOG
VW VIEW DEFINITION FULLTEXT STOPLIST
VW VIEW DEFINITION LOGIN
VW VIEW DEFINITION MESSAGE TYPE
VW VIEW DEFINITION OBJECT
VW VIEW DEFINITION REMOTE SERVICE BINDING
VW VIEW DEFINITION ROLE
VW VIEW DEFINITION ROUTE
VW VIEW DEFINITION SCHEMA
VW VIEW DEFINITION SEARCH PROPERTY LIST
VW VIEW DEFINITION

Applies to: SQL Server 2012 (11.x) and later versions.
SERVER ROLE
VW VIEW DEFINITION SERVICE
VW VIEW DEFINITION SYMMETRIC KEY
VW VIEW DEFINITION TYPE
VW VIEW DEFINITION USER
VW VIEW DEFINITION XML SCHEMA COLLECTION
VWAD VIEW ANY DEFINITION SERVER
VWCK VIEW ANY COLUMN ENCRYPTION KEY DEFINITION

Applies to: SQL Server 2016 (13.x) and later versions.
DATABASE
VWCM VIEW ANY COLUMN MASTER KEY DEFINITION

Applies to: SQL Server 2016 (13.x) and later versions.
DATABASE
VWCT VIEW CHANGE TRACKING OBJECT
VWCT VIEW CHANGE TRACKING SCHEMA
VWDB VIEW ANY DATABASE SERVER
VWDS VIEW DATABASE STATE DATABASE
VWSS VIEW SERVER STATE SERVER
XA EXTERNAL ACCESS ASSEMBLY SERVER
XU UNSAFE ASSEMBLY SERVER

Remarks

sys.fn_builtin_permissions is a table-valued function that emits a copy of the predefined permission hierarchy. This hierarchy includes covering permissions. The DEFAULT result set describes a directed, acyclic graph of the permissions hierarchy, of which the root is (class = SERVER, permission = CONTROL SERVER).

sys.fn_builtin_permissions does not accept correlated parameters.

sys.fn_builtin_permissions will return an empty set when it is called with a class name that is not valid.

The following image shows the permissions and their relationships to each other. Some of the higher level permissions (such as CONTROL SERVER) are listed many times. In this article, the poster is far too small to read. You can download the full-sized Database Engine Permissions Poster in PDF format.

A screenshot from the Database Engine permissions PDF.

Permissions

Requires membership in the public role.

Examples

A. List all built in permissions

Use DEFAULT or an empty string to return all permissions.

SELECT * FROM sys.fn_builtin_permissions(DEFAULT);
SELECT * FROM sys.fn_builtin_permissions('');

B. List permissions that can be set on a symmetric key

Specify a class to return all possible permissions for that class.

SELECT * FROM sys.fn_builtin_permissions(N'SYMMETRIC KEY');

C. List classes on which there is a SELECT permission

SELECT * FROM sys.fn_builtin_permissions(DEFAULT)
    WHERE permission_name = 'SELECT';

See also