Temp tables vs table variables

[serge]

I am running SQL Server Best Practices on a SQL 2000
database and it is recommending me to change the temp
tables inside SPs to table variables.

I had read already in other places to use table variables
over temp tables. I also know I can't create indexes as
I can on temp tables. Instead I'll have to create either
a primary key and/or a unique index on a table variable.

One question I have is let's say I will be putting thousands
of records in a temp table, should i still choose a table
variable over a temp table for this? Or is there a
recommended limit where if I have to store certain
number of records then it's better to store them in
a temp table rather than a table variable? Or number
of records is not the factor to decide whether to use
temp tables or table variables?

I would like to know when it's ideal or best to use
temp tables instead of table variables and vice versa.

Thank you

[Hugo Kornelis]

On Wed, 14 Dec 2005 13:04:05 -0500, serge wrote:

I am running SQL Server Best Practices on a SQL 2000
database and it is recommending me to change the temp
tables inside SPs to table variables.

I had read already in other places to use table variables
over temp tables. I also know I can't create indexes as
I can on temp tables. Instead I'll have to create either
a primary key and/or a unique index on a table variable.

One question I have is let's say I will be putting thousands
of records in a temp table, should i still choose a table
variable over a temp table for this? Or is there a
recommended limit where if I have to store certain
number of records then it's better to store them in
a temp table rather than a table variable? Or number
of records is not the factor to decide whether to use
temp tables or table variables?

I would like to know when it's ideal or best to use
temp tables instead of table variables and vice versa.

Thank you

Hi Serge,

There is no hard and fast rule. Testing is the only way to find out for
sure which solution will be best in your situation.

As a rule of thumb, therre tends to be some bias towards table variables
for small amounts of data and towards temp tables for large amounts of
data.

Best, Hugo
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