Create a stored procedure

Applies to: SQL Server Azure SQL Database Azure SQL Managed Instance Azure Synapse Analytics Analytics Platform System (PDW)

This article describes how to create a SQL Server stored procedure by using SQL Server Management Studio and by using the Transact-SQL CREATE PROCEDURE statement.

Permissions

Requires CREATE PROCEDURE permission in the database and ALTER permission on the schema in which the procedure is being created.

Create a stored procedure

You can use the SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) user interface or Transact-SQL in an SSMS query window to create a stored procedure. Always use the latest version of SSMS.

Note

The example stored procedure in this article uses the sample AdventureWorksLT2022 (SQL Server) or AdventureWorksLT (Azure SQL Database) database. For instructions on how to get and use the AdventureWorksLT sample databases, see AdventureWorks sample databases.

Use SQL Server Management Studio

To create a stored procedure in SSMS:

  1. In Object Explorer, connect to an instance of SQL Server or Azure SQL Database.

    For more information, see the following quickstarts:

  2. Expand the instance, and then expand Databases.

  3. Expand the database that you want, and then expand Programmability.

  4. Right-click Stored Procedures, and then select New > Stored Procedure. A new query window opens with a template for the stored procedure.

    The default stored procedure template has two parameters. If your stored procedure has fewer, more, or no parameters, add or remove parameter lines in the template as appropriate.

  5. On the Query menu, select Specify Values for Template Parameters.

  6. In the Specify Values for Template Parameters dialog box, provide the following information for the Value fields:

    • Author: Replace Name with your name.
    • Create Date: Enter today's date.
    • Description: Briefly describe what the procedure does.
    • Procedure_Name: Replace ProcedureName with the new stored procedure name.
    • @Param1: Replace @p1 with your first parameter name, such as @ColumnName1.
    • @Datatype_For_Param1: As appropriate, replace int with your first parameter's datatype, such as nvarchar(50).
    • Default_Value_For_Param1: As appropriate, replace 0 with your first parameter's default value, or NULL.
    • @Param2: Replace @p2 with your second parameter name, such as @ColumnName2.
    • @Datatype_For_Param2: As appropriate, replace int with your second parameter's datatype, such as nvarchar(50).
    • Default_Value_For_Param2: As appropriate, replace 0 with your second parameter's default value, or NULL.

    The following screenshot shows the completed dialog box for the example stored procedure:

    Screenshot that shows a completed Specify Values for Template Parameters dialog box.

  7. Select OK.

  8. In the Query Editor, replace the SELECT statement with the query for your procedure.

    The following code shows the completed CREATE PROCEDURE statement for the example stored procedure:

    -- =======================================================
    -- Create Stored Procedure Template for Azure SQL Database
    -- =======================================================
    SET ANSI_NULLS ON
    GO
    SET QUOTED_IDENTIFIER ON
    GO
    -- =============================================
    -- Author:      My Name
    -- Create Date: 01/23/2024
    -- Description: Returns the customer's company name.
    -- =============================================
    CREATE PROCEDURE SalesLT.uspGetCustomerCompany
    (
        -- Add the parameters for the stored procedure here
        @LastName nvarchar(50) = NULL,
        @FirstName nvarchar(50) = NULL
    )
    AS
    BEGIN
        -- SET NOCOUNT ON added to prevent extra result sets from
        -- interfering with SELECT statements.
        SET NOCOUNT ON
    
        -- Insert statements for procedure here
        SELECT FirstName, LastName, CompanyName
           FROM SalesLT.Customer
           WHERE FirstName = @FirstName AND LastName = @LastName;
    END
    GO
    
  9. To test the syntax, on the Query menu, select Parse. Correct any errors.

  10. Select Execute from the toolbar. The procedure is created as an object in the database.

  11. To see the new procedure listed in Object Explorer, right-click Stored Procedures and select Refresh.

To run the procedure:

  1. In Object Explorer, right-click the stored procedure name and select Execute Stored Procedure.

  2. In the Execute Procedure window, enter values for all parameters, and then select OK. For detailed instructions, see Execute a stored procedure.

    For example, to run the SalesLT.uspGetCustomerCompany sample procedure, enter Cannon for the @LastName parameter and Chris for the @FirstName parameter, and then select OK. The stored procedure runs, and returns FirstName Chris, LastName Cannon, and CompanyName Outdoor Sporting Goods.

Important

Validate all user input. Don't concatenate user input before you validate it. Never execute a command constructed from unvalidated user input.

Use Transact-SQL

To create a procedure in the SSMS Query Editor:

  1. In SSMS, connect to an instance of SQL Server or Azure SQL Database.

  2. Select New Query from the toolbar.

  3. Input the following code into the query window, replacing <ProcedureName>, the names and data types of any parameters, and the SELECT statement with your own values.

    CREATE PROCEDURE <ProcedureName>
       @<ParameterName1> <data type>,
       @<ParameterName2> <data type>
    AS   
    
       SET NOCOUNT ON;
       SELECT <your SELECT statement>;
    GO
    

    For example, the following statement creates the same stored procedure in the AdventureWorksLT database as the previous example, with a slightly different procedure name.

    CREATE PROCEDURE SalesLT.uspGetCustomerCompany1
        @LastName nvarchar(50),
        @FirstName nvarchar(50)
    AS   
    
        SET NOCOUNT ON;
        SELECT FirstName, LastName, CompanyName
        FROM SalesLT.Customer
        WHERE FirstName = @FirstName AND LastName = @LastName;
    GO
    
  4. Select Execute from the toolbar to execute the query. The stored procedure is created.

  5. To run the stored procedure, enter an EXECUTE statement in a new query window, providing values for any parameters, and then select Execute. For detailed instructions, see Execute a stored procedure.