For separating words in the database object name, use underscore. Servers, databases, and database objects, such as tables, views, columns, indexes, triggers, procedures, constraints, and rules, can have identifiers. Database identifier naming rules . When naming tables, you have two options – to use the singular for the table name or to use a plural. This is a bad idea. There is a huge hidden cost connected with hard-coding the object type in its name. The change will also increases the risk for failure, as not all dependencies are easy to track. In this article, some most common guidance in naming conventions will be given and shown how ApexSQL Refactor, SQL formatting Visual Studio and SSMS add-in with nearly 200 formatting options, can help in achieving capitalization consistency among team members.. My database object naming conventions: I came up with a naming convention which is a mixture of my own ideas and views of SQL experts like Joe Celko! An individual row in that table would be a single customer. In programming, we have many naming conventions like camelCase, PascalCase, under_scores, etc. As regards heuristics in SQL in general (as opposed to proprietary SQL such as T-SQL), there is but one book on the subject: Joe Celko's SQL programming style.Many of the choices for SQL Server's AdventureWorks database conflict with Celko's guidelines. This article references Microsoft SQL Server databases in some examples, but can be used generically with other RDBMSs like Oracle, Sybase etc. Having dots in names of objects will cause confusion. Naming Conventions The main goal of adopting a naming convention for database objects is so that you and others can easily identify the type and purpose of all objects contained in the database. The ISO/IEC naming principles, while dated, recommend pluralized table names and singular column names. Database object names are referred as identifiers, and are created when a database object is defined. The object type cannot be changed without a need to change the name in each place that is referencing the object. The information presented here Everything in Microsoft SQL Server can have an identifier. SQL Server Standards Version 1.5 Shane Lively & Michael Sarsany Page 1 of 24 I. Dots are for identifying objects, usually in the database.schema.table.column pattern. Download Source Code - 18.6 KB; Introduction. Likewise, using spaces in object names will force you to add a bunch of otherwise unnecessary quotes to your query: select "user name" from events -- vs select user_name from events But each and every organization has its own naming conventions. My suggestion would be to always go with names in the singular. The database object name is referred to as its identifier. Hint: Use lower letters when naming database objects. ... it may be useful to encode a schema in the object name: Some (older) guidelines suggest naming tables with a TB_ prefix, views with a VW_ prefix, or stored procedures with a SP_ prefix. Therefore, a table (being a collection of objects) should be named in the plural. A few weeks ago, I posted an article titled "Lightning-Fast Access Control Lists in C#", in which I described a solution for storing and querying permissions in a way that is database-schema agnostic.On the project that launched the article, I was not permitted to modify the database schema due to constraints outside my control. Celko's naming convention is based on on the international standard ISO 11179 e.g. The rationale being that a programmer reading through some unknown SQL would immediately recognize this and know the object type based on the name. too. 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