What is the Undocumented Purpose and Utility of the master..spt_values System Table in SQL Server?

The purpose of SQL Server system table master..spt_values

The master..spt_values ​​system table is a legacy from Sybase and has an undocumented purpose in Microsoft SQL Server. While some speculate on its purpose, it must be acknowledged that it lacks official documentation. Its data structure and usage must be inferred from system stored procedures and online code snippets.

Meaning of value

The

spt_values ​​table contains three main columns:

• Type: Indicates the type of value to be converted, with values ​​ranging from 1 to 149.
• Low: Contains the lower bound of the range of values ​​for the given type.
• High: Defines the upper limit of the range of values ​​for a given type.

Purpose

Although its status is not public, spt_values ​​has some application in the following scenarios:

• Convert internal system values ​​to human-readable strings.
• Provides a convenient numeric source for code snippets.
• Assisted in creating virtual calendar.
• Extract descriptions of database objects in a non-intuitive way.

Notes

Caution is recommended when using spt_values ​​as its structure and data may change without notice in future SQL Server versions. It is recommended to use published alternatives or create a custom number table for reliable number generation.

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