Definition of Views

A view is simply a query stored as an object in the database. Essentially, a view behaves like a virtual table. Therefore, a view, with a few exceptions, can be referenced in Transact-SQL statements in the same manner as actual tables. A view can be defined to return a subset of data?namely selected columns and/or rows from a table?or a superset of data, in which two or more tables are combined using a JOIN or UNION operator to look like a single table. Views are also often used for returning summary values.

Because views are implemented as stored SELECT statements, they have virtually no overhead because they don't actually store data. This is a key point in understanding views. It is a common misconception that views have storage requirements that are commensurate with the data they return; this causes some database developers to avoid views. With the exception of indexed views, the only real overhead in a view is creating it and then applying the appropriate user permissions.

There are many uses for views, the most common of which include:

• Simplifying data retrieval for complex queries

• Hiding the underlying table structures

• Controlling access to data at the row or column level