---
title: "Replication Views (Transact-SQL) | Microsoft Docs"
description: Replication views contain information that is used by replication in SQL Server. The views enable easier access to data in replication system tables.
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ms.date: "03/14/2017"
ms.prod: sql
ms.prod_service: "database-engine"
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ms.technology: replication
ms.topic: "reference"
dev_langs: 
  - "TSQL"
helpviewer_keywords: 
  - "distribution databases [SQL Server replication], system views"
  - "metadata [SQL Server], views"
  - "views [SQL Server], replication"
  - "replication views [SQL Server]"
  - "publications [SQL Server replication], system views"
  - "articles [SQL Server replication], system views"
  - "replication metadata [SQL Server]"
  - "subscriptions [SQL Server replication], system views"
  - "system views [SQL Server], replication"
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author: "stevestein"
ms.author: "sstein"
---
# Replication Views (Transact-SQL)
[!INCLUDE [SQL Server](../../includes/applies-to-version/sqlserver.md)]

  These views contain information that is used by replication in [!INCLUDE[msCoName](../../includes/msconame-md.md)] [!INCLUDE[ssNoVersion](../../includes/ssnoversion-md.md)]. The views enable easier access to data in [replication system tables](../../relational-databases/system-tables/replication-tables-transact-sql.md). Views are created in a user database when that database is enabled as a publication or subscription database. All replication objects are removed from user databases when the database is removed from a replication topology. The preferred method for accessing replication metadata is by using [Replication Stored Procedures](../../relational-databases/system-stored-procedures/replication-stored-procedures-transact-sql.md).  
  
> [!IMPORTANT]  
>  System views should not be altered directly by any user.  
  
## Replication Views  
 The following is a list of the system views used by replication, grouped by database.  
  
### Replication Views in the msdb Database  

:::row:::
    :::column:::
        [MSdatatype_mappings (Transact-SQL)](../../relational-databases/system-views/msdatatype-mappings-transact-sql.md)
    :::column-end:::
    :::column:::
        [sysdatatypemappings (Transact-SQL)](../../relational-databases/system-views/sysdatatypemappings-transact-sql.md)
    :::column-end:::
:::row-end:::

### Replication Views in the Distribution Database  

:::row:::
    :::column:::
        [IHextendedArticleView (Transact-SQL)](../../relational-databases/system-views/ihextendedarticleview-transact-sql.md)

        [IHextendedSubscriptionView (Transact-SQL)](../../relational-databases/system-views/ihextendedsubscriptionview-transact-sql.md)

        [IHsyscolumns (Transact-SQL)](../../relational-databases/system-views/ihsyscolumns-transact-sql.md)

        [MSdistribution_status (Transact-SQL)](../../relational-databases/system-views/msdistribution-status-transact-sql.md)

        [sysarticlecolumns (System View) (Transact-SQL)](../../relational-databases/system-views/sysarticlecolumns-system-view-transact-sql.md)
    :::column-end:::
    :::column:::
        [sysarticles (System View) (Transact-SQL)](../../relational-databases/system-views/sysarticles-system-view-transact-sql.md)

        [sysextendedarticlesview (Transact-SQL)](../../relational-databases/system-views/sysextendedarticlesview-transact-sql.md)

        [syspublications (System View) (Transact-SQL)](../../relational-databases/system-views/syspublications-system-view-transact-sql.md)

        [syssubscriptions (System View) (Transact-SQL)](../../relational-databases/system-views/syssubscriptions-system-view-transact-sql.md)
    :::column-end:::
:::row-end:::

### Replication Views in the Publication Database  

:::row:::
    :::column:::
        [sysmergeextendedarticlesview (Transact-SQL)](../../relational-databases/system-views/sysmergeextendedarticlesview-transact-sql.md)

        [systranschemas (Transact-SQL)](../../relational-databases/system-views/systranschemas-transact-sql.md)
    :::column-end:::
    :::column:::
        [sysmergepartitioninfoview (Transact-SQL)](../../relational-databases/system-views/sysmergepartitioninfoview-transact-sql.md)
    :::column-end:::
:::row-end:::

### Replication Views in the Subscription Database  

:::row:::
    :::column:::
        [sysmergeextendedarticlesview (Transact-SQL)](../../relational-databases/system-views/sysmergeextendedarticlesview-transact-sql.md)

        [sysmergepartitioninfoview (Transact-SQL)](../../relational-databases/system-views/sysmergepartitioninfoview-transact-sql.md)
    :::column-end:::
    :::column:::
        [systranschemas (Transact-SQL)](../../relational-databases/system-views/systranschemas-transact-sql.md)
    :::column-end:::
:::row-end:::
  
## See Also  
 [Replication Tables (Transact-SQL)](../../relational-databases/system-tables/replication-tables-transact-sql.md)