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SUSER_SNAME (Transact-SQL)

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Applies to: SQL Server Azure SQL Database Azure SQL Managed Instance Azure Synapse Analytics Analytics Platform System (PDW)

Returns the login name associated with a security identification number (SID).

Transact-SQL syntax conventions

Syntax

SUSER_SNAME ( [ server_user_sid ] )

Note

To view Transact-SQL syntax for SQL Server 2014 and earlier, see Previous versions documentation.

Arguments

server_user_sid

The optional login security identification number. server_user_sid is varbinary(85). server_user_sid can be the security identification number of any SQL Server login or Microsoft Windows user or group. If server_user_sid isn't specified, information about the current user is returned. If the parameter contains the word NULL will return NULL.

server_user_sid is not supported on Azure SQL Database.

Return type

nvarchar(128)

Remarks

SUSER_SNAME can be used as a DEFAULT constraint in either ALTER TABLE or CREATE TABLE. SUSER_SNAME can be used in a select list, in a WHERE clause, and anywhere an expression is allowed. SUSER_SNAME must always be followed by parentheses, even if no parameter is specified.

When called without an argument, SUSER_SNAME returns the name of the current security context. When called without an argument within a batch that has switched context by using EXECUTE AS, SUSER_SNAME returns the name of the impersonated context. When called from an impersonated context, ORIGINAL_LOGIN returns the name of the original context.

Azure SQL Database remarks

SUSER_SNAME always returns the login name for the current security context.

The SUSER_SNAME statement doesn't support execution using an impersonated security context through EXECUTE AS.

SUSER_SNAME doesn't support the server_user_id argument.

Examples

A. Use SUSER_SNAME

The following example returns the login name for the current security context.

SELECT SUSER_SNAME();
GO

B. Use SUSER_SNAME with a Windows user security ID

The following example returns the login name associated with a Windows security identification number.

SELECT SUSER_SNAME(0x010500000000000515000000a065cf7e784b9b5fe77c87705a2e0000);
GO

C. Use SUSER_SNAME as a DEFAULT constraint

The following example uses SUSER_SNAME as a DEFAULT constraint in a CREATE TABLE statement.

USE AdventureWorks2022;
GO

CREATE TABLE sname_example (
    login_sname SYSNAME DEFAULT SUSER_SNAME(),
    employee_id UNIQUEIDENTIFIER DEFAULT NEWID(),
    login_date DATETIME DEFAULT GETDATE()
    );
GO

INSERT sname_example DEFAULT
VALUES;
GO

D. Call SUSER_SNAME in combination with EXECUTE AS

This example shows the behavior of SUSER_SNAME when called from an impersonated context.

SELECT SUSER_SNAME();
GO

EXECUTE AS LOGIN = 'WanidaBenShoof';
SELECT SUSER_SNAME();

REVERT;
GO

SELECT SUSER_SNAME();
GO

Here is the result.

sa
WanidaBenShoof
sa

Examples: Azure Synapse Analytics and Analytics Platform System (PDW)

E. Use SUSER_SNAME

The following example returns the login name for the security identification number with a value of 0x01.

SELECT SUSER_SNAME(0x01);
GO

F. Return the current login

The following example returns the login name of the current login.

SELECT SUSER_SNAME() AS CurrentLogin;
GO

See also