Beginning T-SQL 2012

C H A P T E R  10

Working with Data Types

You have learned how to retrieve data from SQL Server tables in a number of ways: through simple queries, through joins, with functions, and more. You have learned to manipulate data, write scripts, and create database objects. Essentially, you have learned the T-SQL basics. Not only have you learned these skills, but you have learned to think about the best way to solve a problem, not just the easy way.

This chapter introduces some of the more interesting and complex data types available in SQL Server 2012. You will learn about sparse columns, CLR data types (HIERARCHYID, GEOMETRY, and GEOGRAPHY), enhanced date and time data types, large-value data types (MAX), and FILESTREAM data. Some of these, such ...