One of the common questions that SQL Server users often ask is, “How big can my table name be?” The answer is quite simple – the maximum length for a table name in SQL Server is 128 characters.
You can easily verify this by executing the stored procedure sp_server_info
in SQL Server. Simply run the following code:
EXEC sp_server_info
This will return a result set with various attributes and their corresponding values. Among these attributes, you will find TABLE_LENGTH
with a value of 128. This indicates that the maximum length for a table name in SQL Server is indeed 128 characters.
It’s important to note that while regular table names can be up to 128 characters long, temporary table names have a maximum length of 116 characters. This is a slightly shorter limit compared to regular table names.
If you’re interested in learning more about the maximum allowable length of characters for temporary objects in SQL Server, you can read a detailed blog post on this topic by Balmukund Lakhani.
Understanding the limitations and constraints of table names in SQL Server is crucial for database administrators and developers. By adhering to these limits, you can ensure that your table names are concise, meaningful, and compatible with SQL Server’s naming conventions.
So, the next time you’re creating a table in SQL Server, remember to keep the table name within the 128-character limit to avoid any potential issues.