Why & When should I use SPARSE COLUMN? (SQL SERVER 2008)

Posted by priyanka.sarkar on Stack Overflow See other posts from Stack Overflow or by priyanka.sarkar
Published on 2009-09-09T09:04:47Z Indexed on 2010/04/06 23:23 UTC
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sql-server

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sql-server-2008

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database-design

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sql

After going thru some tutorials on SQL SERVER 2008's new feature SPARSE COLUMN, I have found that it doesn't take any space if the column value is 0 or null but when there is a value, it takes 4 times the space a regular(non sparse) column holds.

If my understanding is correct, then why I will go for that at the time of database design? And if I use that, then at what situation so I be?

Also out of curiosity, how come no space get's reserve when a column is defined as sparse column(I mean to say, what is the internal implementation for that)

Thanks in advance

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