SQL 2008 Inline Variable Assignment

File this under “New Hotness” with SQL 2008.

SQL 2008 finally gives you the ability to declare and assign your variables in a single line of code.  While this may not be as flashy or huge as some of the other new features in SQL 2008 this is one of the many “small wins” that come with being on SQL Server 2008.

I’ll try and post more “lesser known” new features in SQL 2008 as there are already a tonne articles out there describing the higher profile new features available in SQL 2008.

Code Example for Inline Variable Assignment:
-- The old way of declaring and setting a variable
DECLARE @OldWay INT
SET @OldWay = 3
SELECT @OldWay 

-- SQL 2008 Inline Variable Assignment
DECLARE @NewWay INT = 3
SELECT @NewWay