Is there a way to make a TSQL variable constant?

Question

Is there a way to make a TSQL variable constant?

Answer 1

Prior to using a SQL function run the following script to see the differences in performance:

IF OBJECT_ID('fnFalse') IS NOT NULL
DROP FUNCTION fnFalse
GO

IF OBJECT_ID('fnTrue') IS NOT NULL
DROP FUNCTION fnTrue
GO

CREATE FUNCTION fnTrue() RETURNS INT WITH SCHEMABINDING
AS
BEGIN
RETURN 1
END
GO

CREATE FUNCTION fnFalse() RETURNS INT WITH SCHEMABINDING
AS
BEGIN
RETURN ~ dbo.fnTrue()
END
GO

DECLARE @TimeStart DATETIME = GETDATE()
DECLARE @Count INT = 100000
WHILE @Count > 0 BEGIN
SET @Count -= 1

DECLARE @Value BIT
SELECT @Value = dbo.fnTrue()
IF @Value = 1
    SELECT @Value = dbo.fnFalse()
END
DECLARE @TimeEnd DATETIME = GETDATE()
PRINT CAST(DATEDIFF(ms, @TimeStart, @TimeEnd) AS VARCHAR) + ' elapsed, using function'
GO

DECLARE @TimeStart DATETIME = GETDATE()
DECLARE @Count INT = 100000
DECLARE @FALSE AS BIT = 0
DECLARE @TRUE AS BIT = ~ @FALSE

WHILE @Count > 0 BEGIN
SET @Count -= 1

DECLARE @Value BIT
SELECT @Value = @TRUE
IF @Value = 1
    SELECT @Value = @FALSE
END
DECLARE @TimeEnd DATETIME = GETDATE()
PRINT CAST(DATEDIFF(ms, @TimeStart, @TimeEnd) AS VARCHAR) + ' elapsed, using local variable'
GO

DECLARE @TimeStart DATETIME = GETDATE()
DECLARE @Count INT = 100000

WHILE @Count > 0 BEGIN
SET @Count -= 1

DECLARE @Value BIT
SELECT @Value = 1
IF @Value = 1
    SELECT @Value = 0
END
DECLARE @TimeEnd DATETIME = GETDATE()
PRINT CAST(DATEDIFF(ms, @TimeStart, @TimeEnd) AS VARCHAR) + ' elapsed, using hard coded values'
GO