How to Concatenate Numbers and Strings to Format Numbers in T-SQL?

Null Value Management

When integrating numbers and strings, you might meet null values. Use COALESCE or ISNULL when dealing with these party-poopers. They make sure you always have something to concatenate:

SELECT CONCAT(COALESCE(CAST(ActualWeight AS varchar(10)), ''), ' ', COALESCE(Dimensions, 'No dims'))  
-- When ActualWeight gives you nulls, here comes "No dims" 🦸‍♀️ to save the day!
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Explicit Casting for Datatype Harmony

To keep the data types in sync, remember to cast numbers to strings:

SELECT 'Weight: ' + CAST(ActualWeight AS varchar(10)) + ' lbs'
-- "I can't believe it's not varchar!" 🍞
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Avoid possible truncation surprises by checking your string length when casting. This is key when handling hefty numbers or fixed-length fields.

Brushing Up Your Numbers: Advanced Formatting & Error Handling

In the movie of your data manipulation, error handling and formatting are the unsung heroes:

SELECT TRY_CAST(12345 AS varchar(5)) -- Null. Too big for its britches! 🩳👖
SELECT TRY_CAST(12345 AS varchar(10)) -- '12345'. A perfect fit!
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The trusty TRY_CAST and TRY_CONVERT prevent run-time errors but return null for failed casts.

For efficient troubleshooting, add logging to your scripts. It's like leaving breadcrumbs through your code when you're hunting down an issue. 🍞🌳🔎

Performance and Security: Two Pillars of Best Practice

Here are some best practices:

• Get the most juice out of your queries by optimizing your indexes.
• Use stored procedures for performance benefits and to guard against SQL injection. It's like SQL's personal bodyguard. 🦺💪
• Regularly keep an eye on database performance and queries, using tools like SQL Server Profiler.
• Validate all data before it enters your database. Avoid corruption, keep integrity. 🛡️