SELECT *: Blessing or Curse in Database Queries?

The Controversial Use of SELECT *

SELECT *, a query that fetches all columns from a table, has long been a polarizing practice in the realm of database development. While some developers denounce it as an unsanitary abomination, others justify its occasional usage.

Acceptable Use Cases for SELECT *

Certain scenarios warrant the use of SELECT * over a more specific selection:

• Audit Triggers: Including all columns in audit triggers ensures that any future additions to the base table are captured and accounted for, preventing potential omissions.
• Derived Tables: SELECT * in derived tables and column table expressions can be concise and elegant, avoiding the need to manually list each column. However, it's essential to note that this approach may result in unnecessary overhead in some databases.
• Views: Theoretically, SELECT * can be used in views, as the final SELECT statement should filter the retrieved columns. However, this can lead to metadata inconsistencies in certain databases, requiring manual refreshing to ensure accurate results.

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