Should we use system tables or information schema views to retrieve metadata if both give the same results? Please explain why.
Should we use System tables or Information schema views to retrieve Metadata, since both give the same results, and why?

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ASKED: June 9, 2008  3:10 PM
UPDATED: June 9, 2008  10:44 PM

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In SQL Server 2000 you should be using the INFORMATION_SCHEMA views. In SQL Server 2005 and up you should refer to the system views. Starting in SQL Server 2005 there are no more system tables. Everything is held within these system catalog views. They are the views which are in the sys schema. Eventually the INFORMATION_SCHEMA views will be removed from SQL Server, so it's best to begin using the system catalog views now.
Last Wiki Answer Submitted:  June 9, 2008  10:44 pm  by  Denny Cherry   64,520 pts.
All Answer Wiki Contributors:  Denny Cherry   64,520 pts.
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 64,520 pts.