COL_NAME (Transact-SQL)

Returns the name of a column from a specified corresponding table identification number and column identification number.

Topic link iconTransact-SQL Syntax Conventions

Syntax

COL_NAME ( table_id , column_id )

Arguments

  • table_id
    Is the identification number of the table that contains the column. table_id is of type int.
  • column_id
    Is the identification number of the column. column_id parameter is of type int.

Return Types

sysname

Exceptions

Returns NULL on error or if a caller does not have permission to view the object.

In SQL Server 2005, a user can only view the metadata of securables that the user owns or on which the user has been granted permission. This means that metadata-emitting, built-in functions such as COL_NAME may return NULL if the user does not have any permission on the object. For more information, see Metadata Visibility Configuration and Troubleshooting Metadata Visibility.

Remarks

The table_id and column_id parameters together produce a column name string.

For more information about obtaining table and column identification numbers, see OBJECT_ID (Transact-SQL).

Examples

The following example returns the name of the first column in the Employee table of the AdventureWorks database.

USE AdventureWorks;
GO
SET NOCOUNT OFF;
GO
SELECT COL_NAME(OBJECT_ID('HumanResources.Employee'), 1) AS 'Column Name';
GO

Here is the result set.

Column Name        
------------ 
EmployeeID

(1 row(s) affected

See Also

Reference

Expressions (Transact-SQL)
Metadata Functions (Transact-SQL)
COLUMNPROPERTY (Transact-SQL)
COL_LENGTH (Transact-SQL)

Other Resources

Modifying Column Properties

Help and Information

Getting SQL Server 2005 Assistance

Change History

Release History

17 July 2006

New content:
  • Added the "Exceptions" section.