sp_prepare and sp_execute vs sp_executesql

Hi rajesh yadav ,

Both sp_prepare/sp_execute and sp_executesql can run parameterized SQL, but they work a bit differently under the hood.

sp_prepare and sp_execute are typically used by client libraries (like ODBC or JDBC) when they issue prepared statements, the SQL is compiled once, given a handle, and then executed multiple times using that handle. It’s good for repeated queries in the same session, but the plan reuse is limited to that connection and sometimes produces less accurate cardinality estimates.

sp_executesql is more straightforward and generally preferred when you’re writing T-SQL directly. It accepts the full query text and parameters in one go, so the optimizer can use parameter sniffing and generate a more accurate plan. It’s also easier to debug and manage in most scenarios.

In short:

• Use sp_executesql for dynamic SQL you build manually.
• Use sp_prepare/sp_execute if your client driver or ORM uses them automatically, but don’t switch to them manually unless you have a specific reason.

Hope that clarifies the difference.

An answer with less AI:

Stick with sp_executesql. sp_prepare/sp_execute are used by client API, but you would use them in your own code. Least of all in stored procedures.

Beware that when you use sp_executesql, you should always specify tables and other objects in two-component format with both schema and object name, for instance dbo.Orders. If you only say Orders, two users with different default schema cannot share the execution plan, which can lead to cache littering.