Database Fundamentals/Functions

This lesson introduces functions.

Objectives and Skills edit

Objectives and skills for the functions portion of Microsoft Exam 98-364 Database Fundamentals include:^[1]

Create database objects
- Create stored procedures and functions
  - Select, insert, update, or delete data

Use SQL Server to create built-in functions to calculate data in the Student table in your College database.
Create the following built-in functions:
- Apply the AVG function in a query to display the average number of course credit hours in the Course table.
- Apply the MAX function in a query to display the maximum number of course credit hours in the Course table.
- Apply the SUM function in a query to display the total number of course credit hours in the Course table.

A user-defined function (UDF) is a function provided by the user of a program or environment, in a context where the usual assumption is that functions are built into the program or environment. ^[2]
An aggregate function is a function where the values of multiple rows are grouped together as input on certain criteria to form a single value of more significant meaning or measurement such as a set, a bag or a list.). ^[3]