What is the equivalent of 'describe table' in SQL Server?

Question

I have a SQL Server database and I want to know what columns and types it has. I\'d prefer to do this through a query rather than using a GUI like Enterprise Manager. Is the

Answer 1

Use this Query

Select * From INFORMATION_SCHEMA.COLUMNS Where TABLE_NAME = 'TABLENAME'

Answer 2

I tried this and it's working for me

exec sp_help TABLE_NAME

Answer 3

The query below will provide similar output as the info() function in python, Pandas library.

USE [Database_Name]

IF OBJECT_ID('tempdo.dob.#primary_key', 'U') IS NOT NULL DROP TABLE #primary_key

SELECT 
CONS_T.TABLE_CATALOG,
CONS_T.TABLE_SCHEMA,
CONS_T.TABLE_NAME,
CONS_C.COLUMN_NAME,
CONS_T.CONSTRAINT_TYPE,
CONS_T.CONSTRAINT_NAME
INTO  #primary_key
FROM
INFORMATION_SCHEMA.TABLE_CONSTRAINTS AS CONS_T 
JOIN INFORMATION_SCHEMA.CONSTRAINT_COLUMN_USAGE AS CONS_C ON CONS_C.CONSTRAINT_NAME= CONS_T.CONSTRAINT_NAME


SELECT
SMA.name AS [Schema Name],
ST.name AS [Table Name],
SC.column_id AS [Column Order],
SC.name AS [Column Name],
PKT.CONSTRAINT_TYPE, 
PKT.CONSTRAINT_NAME, 
SC.system_type_id,
STP.name AS [Data Type],
SC.max_length,
SC.precision, 
SC.scale, 
SC.is_nullable, 
SC.is_masked
FROM sys.tables  AS ST
JOIN sys.schemas AS SMA ON SMA.schema_id = ST.schema_id
JOIN sys.columns AS SC ON SC.object_id = ST.object_id 
JOIN sys.types AS STP ON STP.system_type_id = SC.system_type_id
LEFT JOIN #primary_key AS PKT ON PKT.TABLE_SCHEMA = SMA.name
                                 AND PKT.TABLE_NAME = ST.name
                                 AND PKT.COLUMN_NAME = SC.name
ORDER BY ST.name ASC, SMA.name ASC

Answer 4

You can use following: sp_help tablename

Example: sp_help Customer

OR Use Shortcut Keys

• Select the desired table and press ALT+F1.

Example: Customer Press ALT+F1.

Answer 5

Just select table and press Alt+F1,

it will show all the information about table like Column name, datatype, keys etc.

Answer 6

use

SELECT COL_LENGTH('tablename', 'colname')

None of other solution worked for me.