Why & When should I use SPARSE COLUMN? (SQL SERVER 2008)
- by priyanka.sarkar
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