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Difference between UDF and Stored procedure

User-defined functions (UDFs) and stored procedures are both database objects used in SQL Server, but they have some key differences in terms of their purpose, return values, and usage:

  1. Purpose:
    UDF: UDFs are primarily used to perform calculations or transformations on input values and return a single value (scalar function) or a table-like result set (table-valued function). They are often used within SQL queries or statements to modify or filter data.
    Stored Procedure: Stored procedures are used to encapsulate a series of SQL statements and can perform complex operations, including data manipulation, transaction management, and business logic implementation. They are typically used for executing predefined routines or tasks.
  2. Return Values:
    UDF: UDFs return a single value (scalar function) or a table-like result set (table-valued function).
    Stored Procedure: Stored procedures do not have a specific return value but can generate result sets or modify data. They may also use output parameters to return values or provide information to the calling code.
  3. Usage:
    UDF: UDFs can be used inline in SQL statements, such as SELECT, WHERE, or JOIN clauses. They are treated as expressions and can be utilized wherever an expression is allowed in SQL queries.
    Stored Procedure: Stored procedures are executed using the EXECUTE or EXEC command. They can be called from other stored procedures, scripts, or applications. They can also accept input parameters and generate output parameters.
  4. Transaction Management:
    UDF: UDFs cannot modify data or manage transactions. They are read-only functions and cannot contain statements that change the database state.
    Stored Procedure: Stored procedures can modify data, implement transaction control, and execute multiple SQL statements within a transaction. They are well-suited for data manipulation and transactional operations.
  5. Modifiability and Deployment:
    UDF: UDFs can be modified independently, and changes take effect immediately. They can be easily deployed by altering or recreating the function.
    Stored Procedure: Stored procedures can be modified independently, and changes take effect immediately. However, modifications to stored procedures may require updating dependent objects or recompiling code that references them.
  6. Code Reusability:
    UDF: UDFs promote code reusability by allowing you to use them within different queries or expressions.
    Stored Procedure: Stored procedures can be called from various parts of an application and provide code reusability. They can encapsulate complex operations and business logic for reuse.

It's important to choose between UDFs and stored procedures based on the specific requirements of your application. UDFs are suitable for calculations and data transformations, while stored procedures are more suitable for complex operations and business logic implementation.

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