Get structure of temp table (like generate sql script) and clear temp table for current instance

Question

How do I get structure of temp table then delete temp table. Is there a sp_helptext for temp tables? Finally is it possible to then delete temp table in same session or query

Answer 1

To Get structure of temp table

Many of us will use common methods like Keyboard Shortcut – ‘Alt+F1‘ or will use ‘SP_HELPTEXT‘ Command (so many other methods are also there) to view the Structure of Physical Table. As we all know, Viewing the Structure of Temp Table is not as common as Viewing the Structure of Physical Table. we are going to see, how to view the Structure of Temp Table easily in SQL Server. The below mentioning methods are applicable at both Azure SQL DB and On-Premises.

Demo SQL Script

IF OBJECT_ID('TempDB..#TempTable') IS NOT NULL
    DROP TABLE #TempTable;

SELECT 1 AS ID,'Arul' AS Names
INTO
#TempTable;

SELECT * FROM #TempTable;

METHOD 1 – Using SP_HELP

EXEC TempDB..SP_HELP #TempTable;

Note-

In the Table Structure, the Table Name shows something like ‘#TempTable__________________________________________________________________________________________________________0000000004CB’. Actually, the total length of each and every Temp Table name will be 128 . To handle the Same Temp Table name in Multiple Sessions differently, SQL Server will automatically add some underscores in between and alphanumeric’s at end.

METHOD 2 – Using SP_COLUMNS

EXEC TempDB..SP_COLUMNS '#TempTable';

METHOD 3 – Using System Tables like INFORMATION_SCHEMA.COLUMNS, SYS.COLUMNS, SYS.TABLES

SELECT * FROM TempDB.INFORMATION_SCHEMA.COLUMNS WHERE TABLE_NAME IN (
SELECT NAME FROM TempDB.SYS.TABLES WHERE OBJECT_ID=OBJECT_ID('TempDB.dbo.#TempTable')
);
GO

SELECT * FROM TempDB.SYS.COLUMNS WHERE OBJECT_ID=OBJECT_ID('TempDB.dbo.#TempTable');
GO

SELECT * FROM TempDB.SYS.TABLES WHERE OBJECT_ID=OBJECT_ID('TempDB.dbo.#TempTable');
GO

To Clear temp table for current instance

IF OBJECT_ID('TempDB..#TempTable') IS NOT NULL
    DROP TABLE #TempTable;