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View the definition of a stored procedure

Learn how to view the definition of procedure in Object Explorer and by using a system stored procedure, system function, and object catalog view in the Query Editor.

WilliamDAssafMSFT

wiassaf

07/19/2024

sql

stored-procedures

how-to

ignite-2024

stored procedures [SQL Server], viewing

definition of stored procedure

viewing stored procedures

displaying stored procedures

>=aps-pdw-2016 || =azuresqldb-current || =azure-sqldw-latest || >=sql-server-2016 || >=sql-server-linux-2017 || =azuresqldb-mi-current || =fabric

View the definition of a stored procedure

[!INCLUDE SQL Server Azure SQL Database Azure SQL Managed Instance Azure Synapse Analytics PDW FabricSQLDB]

View the definition of a stored procedure

This article describes how to view the definition of procedure in Object Explorer or T-SQL.

Use SQL Server Management Studio

To view the definition a procedure in Object Explorer:

In Object Explorer, connect to an instance of [!INCLUDE ssDE] and then expand that instance.
Expand Databases, expand the database in which the procedure belongs, and then expand Programmability.
Expand Stored Procedures, right-click the procedure and then select Script Stored Procedure as, and then select one of the following: Create To, Alter To, or Drop and Create To.
Select New Query Editor Window. This will display the procedure definition.

Use Transact-SQL

In T-SQL, you can use one of the following three commands:

Note

The system stored procedure sp_helptext is not supported in Azure Synapse Analytics. Instead, use sys.sql_modules object catalog view.

Use sp_helptext

In Object Explorer, connect to an instance of the [!INCLUDE ssDE].
On the toolbar, select New Query.
In the query window, enter the following statement that uses the sp_helptext system stored procedure. Change the database name and stored procedure name to reference the database and stored procedure that you want.
```
USE AdventureWorks2022;  
GO  
EXEC sp_helptext N'AdventureWorks2022.dbo.uspLogError';  
```

Use OBJECT_DEFINITION

In Object Explorer, connect to an instance of the [!INCLUDE ssDE].
On the toolbar, select New Query.
In the query window, enter the following statements that use the OBJECT_DEFINITION system function. Change the database name and stored procedure name to reference the database and stored procedure that you want. This query leverages OBJECT_ID and OBJECT_DEFINITION to identify the object by its three-part name.
```
USE AdventureWorks2022;  
GO  
SELECT OBJECT_DEFINITION (OBJECT_ID(N'AdventureWorks2022.dbo.uspLogError'));  
```

Use sys.sql_modules

In Object Explorer, connect to an instance of the [!INCLUDE ssDE].
On the toolbar, select New Query.
In the query window, enter the following statements that use the sys.sql_modules catalog view. Change the database name and stored procedure name to reference the database and stored procedure that you want.
```
USE AdventureWorks2022;  
GO  
SELECT [definition]
FROM sys.sql_modules  
WHERE object_id = (OBJECT_ID(N'dbo.uspLogError'));  
```

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