Local and global temporary tables in SQL Server

What is the difference between local and global temporary tables in SQL Server?


  • Table variables (DECLARE @t TABLE) are visible only to the connection that creates it, and are deleted when the batch or stored procedure ends.

  • Local temporary tables (CREATE TABLE #t) are visible only to the connection that creates it, and are deleted when the connection is closed.

  • Global temporary tables (CREATE TABLE ##t) are visible to everyone, and are deleted when all connections that have referenced them have closed.

  • Tempdb permanent tables (USE tempdb CREATE TABLE t) are visible to everyone, and are deleted when the server is restarted.


I find this explanation quite clear (it's pure copy from Technet):

There are two types of temporary tables: local and global. Local temporary tables are visible only to their creators during the same connection to an instance of SQL Server as when the tables were first created or referenced. Local temporary tables are deleted after the user disconnects from the instance of SQL Server. Global temporary tables are visible to any user and any connection after they are created, and are deleted when all users that are referencing the table disconnect from the instance of SQL Server.