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title: "sp_prepare (Transact SQL) | Microsoft Docs"
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# sp_prepare (Transact SQL)
[!INCLUDE[tsql-appliesto-ss2008-xxxx-asdw-pdw_md](../../includes/tsql-appliesto-ss2008-xxxx-asdw-pdw-md.md)]

  Prepares a parameterized [!INCLUDE[tsql](../../includes/tsql-md.md)] statement and returns a statement *handle* for execution. sp_prepare is invoked by specifying ID = 11 in a tabular data stream (TDS) packet.  
  
 ![Topic link icon](../../database-engine/configure-windows/media/topic-link.gif "Topic link icon") [Transact-SQL Syntax Conventions](../../t-sql/language-elements/transact-sql-syntax-conventions-transact-sql.md)  
  
## Syntax  
  
```  
-- Syntax for SQL Server, Azure SQL Data Warehouse, Parallel Data Warehouse  
  
sp_prepare handle OUTPUT, params, stmt, options  
```  
  
## Arguments  
 *handle*  
 Is a SQL Server-generated *prepared handle* identifier. *handle* is a required parameter with an **int** return value.  
  
 *params*  
 Identifies parameterized statements. The *params* definition of variables is substituted for parameter markers in the statement. *params* is a required parameter that calls for an **ntext**, **nchar**, or **nvarchar** input value. Input a NULL value if the statement is not parameterized.  
  
 *stmt*  
 Defines the cursor result set. The *stmt* parameter is required and calls for an **ntext**, **nchar**, or **nvarchar** input value.  
  
 *options*  
 An optional parameter that returns a description of the cursor result set columns. *options* requires the following **int** input value.  
  
|Value|Description|  
|-----------|-----------------|  
|0x0001|RETURN_METADATA|  
  
## Examples  
 The following example prepares and executes a simple statement.  
  
```  
Declare @P1 int;  
Exec sp_prepare @P1 output,   
    N'@P1 nvarchar(128), @P2 nvarchar(100)',  
    N'SELECT database_id, name FROM sys.databases WHERE name=@P1 AND state_desc = @P2';  
Exec sp_execute @P1, N'tempdb', N'ONLINE';  
EXEC sp_unprepare @P1;  
```  
  
## Examples: [!INCLUDE[ssSDWfull](../../includes/sssdwfull-md.md)] and [!INCLUDE[ssPDW](../../includes/sspdw-md.md)]  
 The following example prepares and executes a simple statement.  
  
```  
Declare @P1 int;  
Exec sp_prepare @P1 output,   
    N'@P1 nvarchar(128), @P2 nvarchar(100)',  
    N'SELECT database_id, name FROM sys.databases WHERE name=@P1 AND state_desc = @P2';  
Exec sp_execute @P1, N'tempdb', N'ONLINE';  
EXEC sp_unprepare @P1;  
```  
  
## See Also  
 [System Stored Procedures (Transact-SQL)](../../relational-databases/system-stored-procedures/system-stored-procedures-transact-sql.md)