What Is CTE In SQL Server ?

 CTE stands for common table expression.

 CTE is introduced in SQL Server 2005.
 A CTE allows you to define a temporary result set, that can be linked immediately with
the select, insert, update or delete statement.
 CTE is similar to a temporary resultset defined within the execution scope of a single
SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE, or CREATE VIEW statement.
 The CTE can also be used in a View.
 A CTE is defined at the start of a query and can be referenced several times in the outer
query.
 Key advantages of CTEs are improved readability and ease in maintenance of complex
queries.

Syntax Of Defining CTE

WITH expression_name (column1, column2, ……)
AS
(
CTE_definition
)
SQL_statement;

CTE In SQL
 In SQL, CTE exists in memory only while the query is running. After the query is run,
the CTE is discarded; it cannot be used for the next SQL query unless we define it again.
Still, the same CTE might be referenced several times in the main query and any
subqueries.
  A view is a stored SQL query that is executed each time you reference it in another
query. Note that a view doesn’t store the output of a particular query – it stores the query
itself.
 The key thing to remember about SQL views is that, in contrast to a CTE, a view is a
physical object in a database and is stored on a disk. However, views store the query
only, not the data returned by the query. The data is computed each time you reference
the view in your query.
 CTEs are limited in scope to the execution of the outer query. Hence, when the outer
query ends, the lifetime of the CTE will end.
 You need to define a name for a CTE and also, define unique names for each of the
columns referenced in the SELECT clause of the CTE.
 It is possible to use inline or external aliases for columns in CTEs.
 A single CTE can be referenced multiple times in the same query with one definition.
 Multiple CTEs can also be defined in the same WITH clause.

CTE VS Sub Query

 CTE is created before the outer query.
 Sub Query is created after the outer query.

SQL Queries For CTE

select * from student;

-- EXAMPLE NO: 1
with New_CTE
as
(
select * from student where gender = 'Male'
)
select * from New_CTE

-- EXAMPLE NO: 2
with New_CTE
as
(
select * from student where gender = 'Male'
)
select count(*) from New_CTE

-- EXAMPLE NO: 3
with New_CTE
as
(
select * from student where gender = 'Male'
)
--select 'Hello World'
select * from New_CTE where age >= 17

-- EXAMPLE NO: 4 - WITH COLUMNS

with New_CTE(std_id, std_name, std_class)
as
(
select id, name, [standard] from student where gender = 'Male'
)
select std_id, std_name from New_CTE

-- EXAMPLE NO: 5
with New_CTE
as
(
select * from student
)
select * from New_CTE

-- EXAMPLE NO: 6 - CTE WITH INSERT UPDATE DELETE

with New_CTE
as
(
select * from student
)
delete New_CTE where id = 18
update New_CTE set name = 'Zain' where id = 18
insert New_CTE values('Afaq','Male',15,8)

-- EXAMPLE NO: 7 - CREATING VIEW USING CTE

create view vWMyNewView
as
with New_CTE
as
(
select * from student where [standard] = 12
)
select * from New_CTE

select * from vWMyNewView;

-- CREATING MULTIPLE CTES USING SINGLE WITH CLAUSE

with New_CTE
as
(
select * from student where [standard] = 12
),
New_CTE2
as
(
select * from student where [standard] = 11
)
select * from New_CTE
union all
select * from New_CTE2

with New_CTE
as
(
select count(*) as [Total_Male_Students] from student where gender = 'Male'
)
select * from New_CTE