SQL Server Difference between @@IDENTITY, SCOPE_IDENTITY () and IDENT_CURRENT

Introduction:

Here I will explain difference between @@identity, scope_identity and ident_current in sqlserver with example. Generally @@identity, scope_identity and ident_current properties in sqlserver  is used to get identity / id value of last or newly inserted record in table but only difference is scope either local or global and session either current session or other session in sqlserver .

@@IDENTITY

It will return last or newly inserted record id of any table in current session but it’s not limited to current scope. In current session if any trigger or functions inserted record in any table that it will return that latest inserted record id regardless of table. We need to use this property whenever we don’t have any other functions or triggers that run automatically.

Syntax

SELECT @@IDENTITY

SCOPE_IDENTITY()

This property will return last or newly inserted record id of table in current session or connection and it’s limited to current scope that means it will return id of newly inserted record in current session / connection stored procedure or query executed by you in current scope even we have any other functions or triggers that run automatically. Its better we can go with property whenever we need to get last or newly inserted record id in table.

Syntax

SELECT SCOPE_IDENTITY()

IDENT_CURRENT

This property will return last or newly inserted record id of specified table. It’s not limited to any session or scope it’s limited to mentioned table so it will return last inserted record id of specified table.

Syntax

SELECT IDENT_CURRENT(table_name)

Finally we can say SCOPE_IDENTITY properties is best to get newly inserted record id from executed stored procedure or query when compared with other properties

EXAMPLE

CREATE TABLE SAMPLE1 (Id INT IDENTITY)

CREATE TABLE SAMPLE2 (Id INT IDENTITY(100,1))

-- Trigger to execute while inserting data into SAMPLE1 table

GO

CREATE TRIGGER TRGINSERT ON SAMPLE1 FOR INSERT

AS

BEGIN

INSERT SAMPLE2 DEFAULT VALUES

END

GO

SELECT * FROM SAMPLE1  -- It will return empty value

SELECT * FROM SAMPLE2  -- It will return empty value