SQL Views vs Temporary Tables

Developers should use SQL Views when they need to encapsulate complex joins, aggregations, or calculations into a reusable and simplified interface, reducing code duplication and improving maintainability meets developers should use temporary tables when handling large datasets that require multiple-step processing, such as in data transformation, reporting, or complex joins, as they improve performance by reducing query complexity and enabling reuse of intermediate results. Here's our take.

SQL Views

Nice Pick

Developers should use SQL Views when they need to encapsulate complex joins, aggregations, or calculations into a reusable and simplified interface, reducing code duplication and improving maintainability

Pros

• They are particularly useful in scenarios requiring data security, such as hiding sensitive information from users, or in applications where a consistent data presentation layer is needed across multiple queries, like in reporting systems or multi-tenant databases
• Related to: sql, database-design

Cons

• Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

Temporary Tables

Developers should use temporary tables when handling large datasets that require multiple-step processing, such as in data transformation, reporting, or complex joins, as they improve performance by reducing query complexity and enabling reuse of intermediate results

Pros

• They are particularly useful in stored procedures, batch operations, or when working with session-specific data that doesn't need to persist beyond the current operation, helping to avoid locking issues and maintain data isolation
• Related to: sql, database-design

Cons

• Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

The Verdict

These tools serve different purposes. SQL Views is a database while Temporary Tables is a concept. We picked SQL Views based on overall popularity, but your choice depends on what you're building.

The Bottom Line

SQL Views wins

Based on overall popularity. SQL Views is more widely used, but Temporary Tables excels in its own space.