CODEWITHSUNDEEP
sqlsql-server-2008-r2calculated-columns
user666423
user666423

Reputation: 229

Computed columns or store

I need a couple of computed columns that contain count totals (indexed columns). Do you think it is better to use a computed column in a view or add extra columns to the table that will store the totals? Adding extra columns would probably mean using triggers to keep the count totals correct.

DB is MS SQL 2008 R2.

Upvotes: 0

Views: 497

Answers (2)

usr
usr

Reputation: 171178

You can use a indexed view to get the performance of stored columns at no maintenance effort.

Upvotes: 1

Aaron Digulla
Aaron Digulla

Reputation: 328604

It depends.

If the tables change a lot but you rarely need the counts, a view is better. The question "view vs. computed columns" is one of DB design. If you can't change the original table or the DBMS doesn't support computed columns, use a view. If you can change the table definition, computed columns can be better but they also clutter the definition and make select * slower if you don't always need this data.

If the table rarely changes but you need those numbers a lot, use extra columns with triggers to avoid performance problems.

Upvotes: 0

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