A view can be thought of as either a virtual table or a stored query. Unless a view is indexed, its data is not stored in the database as a distinct object. What is stored in the database is a SELECT statement. The result set of the SELECT statement forms the virtual table returned by the view. A user can use this virtual table by referencing the view name in Transact-SQL statements the same way a table is referenced.
This section provides the information necessary to understand, design, and create views.
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Topic
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Description
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Understanding Views
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Explains view concepts, types of views, and scenarios for using views, with examples.
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Designing and Implementing Views
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Provides specific guidelines for designing standard, indexed, and partitioned views, with links to the necessary topics for creating views.
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Modifying Views
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Describes the procedures and provides the necessary links for modifying the definition of a view, modifying data through a view, and deleting a view.
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