This CHAR, VARCHAR, NVARCHAR and VARCHAR(MAX) Quiz stores the text abc in three columns and asks how many bytes each one uses. The answer is 10, 3 and 6. A tested script proves it and shows the trailing space trap, the question mark problem and the 8,000 byte limit.
SQL Server emergency? Email pinal@sqlauthority.com with URGENT in the subject line.
Application Roles: Permissions That Follow the App, Not the User
Application roles sound like a lock only your app can open. This demo shows what the switch really does and why the password is the whole key.
Stored Procedure Recompile Quiz: What Forces a New Plan?
This Stored Procedure Recompile Quiz asks which action makes SQL Server build a new plan for a procedure. The answer is a new index on a table it reads. A tested script uses plan counters to show what reuses the plan and what rebuilds it.
Table Variables vs Temporary Tables Quiz: Which Survives a Rollback?
This Table Variables vs Temporary Tables Quiz inserts one row into each, then rolls back. The table variable keeps its row and the temporary table loses it. A tested script proves it, and two more scripts show a rollback-proof log and the statistics gap.
DACPAC vs BACPAC Quiz: Which File Carries Your Data?
This DACPAC vs BACPAC Quiz asks which file moves a database with its rows to Azure SQL Database. The answer is the BACPAC. A tested script shows what each file describes, and the SqlPackage commands show how to use them.
Nonclustered Index Rebuild Quiz: Does a Clustered Rebuild Touch Them?
This Nonclustered Index Rebuild Quiz asks what happens to the other indexes when you rebuild the clustered index. The answer is nothing, and a tested script shows it. It also covers the cases where SQL Server does rebuild them.
Data Quality Rules in T-SQL
Data quality rules in T-SQL turn nulls, duplicates, invalid dates, and broken references into visible failures before rows reach reports.
SQL Server slow? Let's fix it together in about four hours.
In my Comprehensive Database Performance Health Check, you share your screen, I guide you, and we fix your biggest performance troublemakers. No passwords. No remote access.
You keep every script, and the know-how to fix it yourself next time.
Want your whole team to learn it?
My Practical Workshop has no PowerPoint, just live demos. My AI Enablement Workshop shows your team where AI saves hours, and where it quietly costs them.
Over 400 customers have worked with me this way, and not one shared a password. See all consulting options.
Who We Are
Pinal Dave is an SQL Server Performance Tuning Expert and independent consultant with over 24 years of hands-on experience. He holds a Masters of Science degree and numerous database certifications.
Pinal has authored 19 books and 125 Pluralsight courses. To freely share his knowledge and help others build their expertise, Pinal has also written more than 5,800 database tech articles on his blog at https://blog.sqlauthority.com.
Pinal is also a CrossFit Level 1 Trainer (CF-L1) and CrossFit Level 2 Trainer (CF-L2).
Nupur Dave is a social media enthusiast and an independent consultant. She primarily focuses on the database domain, helping clients build short and long-term multi-channel campaigns to drive leads for their sales pipeline.
Shaivi Pinalkumar Dave is a book author and a women’s artistic gymnast.

