Which stored procedure should a database administrator (DBA) use to rename an existing table to align with new naming conventions?

Which stored procedure should a database administrator (DBA) use to rename an existing table to align with new naming conventions?

• A. sp_modify
• B. sp_update
• C. sp_rename
• D. sp_change

Answer: (C)

The correct choice, sp_rename, is a system stored procedure used in SQL Server to rename various database objects, including tables, columns, and indexes. When a DBA needs to align table names with new naming conventions, sp_rename is the appropriate tool because it directly allows for the renaming of an existing table without requiring complex alterations to the overall database schema.

Using sp_rename, the DBA can specify the current table name along with the new name, effectively implementing the naming convention changes with minimal disruption. This stored procedure handles the necessary updates in the system catalog, ensuring that all references to the table are properly managed.

The other options do not serve the purpose of renaming tables. Sp_modify and sp_update are not standard stored procedures in SQL Server for this function, as they relate to updating data or metadata rather than renaming objects. Sp_change, while it might suggest changing something, is not an existing stored procedure in the context of renaming; therefore, it would not be useful for this specific task either.