DECLARE statement

Description

Declares a SQL variable within a compound statement (BEGIN... END).

Syntax

DECLARE variable_name data-type

Examples

Example 1

The following batch illustrates the use of the DECLARE statement and prints a message on the server window:

BEGIN
  DECLARE varname CHAR(61) ;
  SET varname = 'Test name';
  MESSAGE name;
END

Usage

Variables used in the body of a procedure can be declared using the DECLARE statement. The variable persists for the duration of the compound statement in which it is declared.

The body of a procedure is a compound statement, and variables must be declared immediately following BEGIN. In a Transact-SQL procedure or trigger, there is no such restriction.

Standards

Permissions

None.