SQL Server windowing functions are a powerful and versatile set of tools that allow you to perform complex calculations and operations on a set of rows within a query. These functions operate on a set of rows, called a window, and can be used to perform a wide range of operations, including ranking, aggregation, and ranking.

One of the key benefits of using SQL Server windowing function:

They allow you to perform calculations and operations on a set of rows without the need for a self-join or a subquery. This makes your queries more efficient and easier to read and understand.

Another advantage:

They can be used to perform calculations and operations that would be difficult or impossible to do using traditional SQL operators. For example, you can use a windowing function to calculate a running total, or to find the maximum value within a group of rows.

Some of the most commonly used SQL Server windowing functions include:

ROW_NUMBER(): This function assigns a unique integer value to each row within a partition. It can be used to assign a unique identifier to each row, or to perform ranking operations.

RANK(): This function assigns a rank to each row within a partition, based on the values of the specified columns. It can be used to determine the relative position of each row within a group of rows.

DENSE_RANK(): This function is similar RANK.

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