Why does select SCOPE_IDENTITY() return a decimal instead of an integer?

Question

So I have a table with an identity column as the primary key, so it is an integer. So, why does SCOPE_IDENTITY() always return a decimal value instead of an int

Answer 1

In SQL Server, the IDENTITY property can be assigned to tinyint, smallint, int, bigint, decimal(p, 0), or numeric(p, 0) columns. Therefore the SCOPE_IDENTITY function has to return a data type that can encompass all of the above.

As previous answers have said, just cast it to int on the server before returning it, then ADO.NET will detect its type as you expect.

Answer 2

Can't you just cast it before returning it from your query or stored proc (SPs alway return int anyway, but maybe you are using an output parameter)?

Like SELECT CAST(SCOPE_IDENTITY() AS INT) AS LAST_IDENTITY

And why it does this? Probably to be more flexible and handle larger numbers.

Answer 3

try using this and you'll get an integer back:

ExecuteScalar('insert...; select CONVERT(int,scope_identity())');

Answer 4

Scope identity return value is decimal(38,0)

CAST it, use the OUTPUT clause, or assign to an output parameter rather than SELECT SCOPE_IDENTITY() to the client