SQL Server 2005: Synonyms and non-clustered index included columns

SQL Server 2005: Two Little Known Features That Matter Big! > Synonyms:

SQL Server 2005 introduces a host of new features, some well-known; some not as familiar. This article introduces you to two exciting options: synonyms and non-clustered index included columns.

Synonyms help you create aliases for your objects. They simplify the naming of remote objects as well as objects that are in another database or another schema. They can also help you create a layer of abstraction for the database objects—thus allowing you to swap the underlying objects without affecting any code that references the objects.

Non-clustered index included columns help improve query performance. This feature is totally new and (as far as I know) does not exist in other database products. It is similar to the indexed view feature of SQL Server 2000, but is much easier to plan implement and maintain.

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