As a SQL Server enthusiast, I often receive questions from readers who are eager to learn more about the intricacies of SQL Server. One question that recently caught my attention was whether the order of columns in UPDATE statements makes a difference. Today, I will address this query and provide a clear answer.

Let’s consider the following two options for an UPDATE statement:

Option 1:

UPDATE TableName 
SET Col1 = 'Value', Col2 = 'Value2'

Option 2:

UPDATE TableName 
SET Col2 = 'Value2', Col1 = 'Value'

The answer is NO. There is no difference between these two options in SQL Server. The order of the columns in the UPDATE statement does not affect the outcome of the update operation.

For those interested in delving deeper into this topic, I recommend reading my previous articles on related subjects. Although they were written some time ago, the information they provide is still relevant and valuable.

One such article discusses the concept of “Update All at Once,” which is based on the principle of atomicity. In an atomic transaction, a series of database operations either all occur or none occur. This ensures that updates to the database are not performed partially, which can lead to more significant issues than rejecting the entire series of operations outright.

Another article explores the idea of changing the order of columns in database tables. While I personally advocate that the order of columns should not matter, it is essential to consider your specific business needs when making such decisions.

By understanding these concepts and best practices, you can optimize your SQL Server experience and ensure efficient and effective database operations.