Printing integer variable and string on same line in SQL

Approaches to integer-to-string conversion

Using CAST or CONVERT

In SQL Server, when mixing types, CAST or CONVERT can be your best mates:

DECLARE @intValue INT = 10;
PRINT 'The value is: ' + CAST(@intValue AS VARCHAR);
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Remember, SQL's about as forgiving with types as a grumpy cat with a cucumber. 🐱‍👤🥒

CONCAT - auto-magic conversion

SQL Server 2012+ has CONCAT, auto-magically converting non-string data types:

DECLARE @intValue INT = 10;
PRINT CONCAT('The value is: ', @intValue);
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It's SQL's personal assistant for concat tasks. "Thank you, JARVIS."

RAISERROR for formatted output

For console.log() fans, SQL Server's RAISERROR (with NOWAIT option) prints formatted messages:

DECLARE @intValue INT = 10;
RAISERROR ('The value is: %d', 0, 1, @intValue) WITH NOWAIT;
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"Console log spotted in SQL. Javascript dev's secret identity is no longer secret."

Variables and data types handling

Declaring and Initializing Variables

Using DECLARE keyword, initialize the variable:

DECLARE @count INT;
SET @count = 100;
PRINT CONCAT('Item count: ', @count);
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"SQL Server: Name it, set it, print it."

Data-type compatibility is crucial!

Trying to combine an integer with a string without conversion? Not on SQL Server's watch:

SELECT 'The value is ' + @intValue; -- Incorrect, potential error
SELECT 'The value is ' + CAST(@intValue AS VARCHAR); -- Correct
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"A SQL Server never forgets... a type."

The importance of operator precedence

Remember your math classes: operators have precedence.

SELECT 'Value: ' + 1 + 2; -- Incorrect, equals error due to mathematical attempt
SELECT 'Value: ' + CAST(1 AS VARCHAR) + CAST(2 AS VARCHAR); -- Correct
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"SQL Server: Successfully making school math problems relevant again."