Exploring SQL Server Stored Procedure Return Value

Hello Dev, if you are reading this article, then you must be looking for information on SQL Server stored procedure return value. You are in the right place! In this article, we will discuss the ins and outs of SQL Server stored procedure return value. We hope you find this article informative and helpful in your journey as a developer.

Understanding SQL Server Stored Procedure Return Value

When you execute a stored procedure in SQL Server, it can return a value that indicates the success or failure of the execution. The return value can be used to determine the result of the execution and take appropriate actions based on the result. The return value can be an integer value between -2,147,483,648 and 2,147,483,647.

SQL Server stored procedure can return value using the RETURN statement. The RETURN statement is also used to exit the stored procedure before the end of the code block. We will discuss more on how to use the RETURN statement in the subsequent sections.

Using RETURN Statement to Return Value from Stored Procedure

The RETURN statement is used to return a value from a stored procedure. The syntax of the RETURN statement is as follows:

The following example demonstrates how to use the RETURN statement to return a value from a stored procedure:

Example

CREATE PROCEDURE usp_GetEmployee@EmployeeID INTASBEGINDECLARE @Result INT;SELECT @Result = COUNT(*) FROM Employees WHERE EmployeeID = @EmployeeID;IF @Result > 0RETURN 1;ELSERETURN 0;END;

In the above example, the stored procedure usp_GetEmployee accepts a parameter @EmployeeID and returns a value based on whether the employee exists or not. If the employee exists, it returns 1, otherwise, it returns 0.

Using Output Parameter to Return Value from Stored Procedure

In addition to using the RETURN statement, SQL Server stored procedure can also return a value using output parameters. Output parameters are variables that are defined in the stored procedure and are passed by reference to the calling code. The calling code can then retrieve the value of the output parameter and take appropriate actions based on the value.

To declare an output parameter, we use the OUTPUT keyword in the parameter definition. The following example demonstrates how to use output parameter to return value from a stored procedure:

Example

CREATE PROCEDURE usp_GetEmployeeDetails@EmployeeID INT,@EmployeeName VARCHAR(50) OUTPUT,@Salary DECIMAL(10,2) OUTPUTASBEGINSELECT @EmployeeName = EmployeeName, @Salary = Salary FROM Employees WHERE EmployeeID = @EmployeeID;END;

In the above example, the stored procedure usp_GetEmployeeDetails accepts the parameter @EmployeeID and two output parameters @EmployeeName and @Salary. The stored procedure retrieves the employee name and salary from the Employees table and assigns the values to the output parameters.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. What is an SQL Server stored procedure return value?

An SQL Server stored procedure return value is an integer value that indicates the success or failure of the execution of a stored procedure. The return value can be used to determine the result of the execution and take appropriate actions based on the result.

Q2. How to use the RETURN statement to return a value from a stored procedure?

The RETURN statement is used to return a value from a stored procedure. The syntax of the RETURN statement is as follows:

RETURN value;

The value can be an integer or a variable. We can use the RETURN statement to return the value and exit the stored procedure before the end of the code block.

Q3. How to use output parameter to return value from a stored procedure?

To use output parameter to return value from a stored procedure, we declare the parameter using the OUTPUT keyword in the parameter definition. The calling code can then retrieve the value of the output parameter and take appropriate actions based on the value.

Q4. What is the difference between the RETURN statement and output parameter?

The RETURN statement is used to return a value from a stored procedure and exit the code block. Output parameters are variables that are defined in the stored procedure and passed by reference to the calling code. The calling code can then retrieve the value of the output parameter and take appropriate actions based on the value.

The main difference between the RETURN statement and output parameter is that the RETURN statement can only return a single value, while output parameters can return multiple values.

Q5. What is the maximum value that an SQL Server stored procedure return value can have?

The maximum value that an SQL Server stored procedure return value can have is 2,147,483,647.

Conclusion

In this article, we have discussed the SQL Server stored procedure return value in detail. We have explored how to use the RETURN statement and output parameter to return a value from a stored procedure. We hope you have found this article informative and helpful in your journey as a developer.