B
backup
A copy of a database, transaction log, file, or filegroup used to recover data after a system failure.backup device
A tape or disk used in a backup or restore operation.backup file
A file that stores a full or partial database, transaction log, file, or filegroup backup.backup media
The tape, disk, or named pipe used to store a backup set.backup set
The output of a single backup operation.balanced hierarchy
A dimension hierarchy in which all leaf nodes are the same distance from the root node.base data type
Any system-supplied data type, such as char, varchar, binary, and varbinary. User- defined data types are derived from base data types. See also data type, user-defined data type.base table
A table stored permanently in a database. Base tables are referenced by views, cursors, SQL statements, and stored procedures. See also underlying table.batch
A set of SQL statements submitted together and executed as a group. A script is often a series of batches submitted one after the other.bcp files
Files that store bulk copy data created by the bulk copy utility or synchronization.bcp utility
A command prompt bulk copy utility that copies SQL Server data to or from an operating system file in a user-specified format.bigint data type
An integer data type with a value from 2^63 (9223372036854775808) through 2^63 1 (9223372036854775807).binary data type
A fixed-length binary data type with a maximum length of 8000 bytes.binary large object (BLOB)
A piece of binary data that has an exceptionally large size (such as pictures or audio tracks stored as digital data) or any variable or table column large enough to hold such values. In Transact-SQL, a BLOB is stored in an image column. Sometimes the term BLOB is also applied to large character data values, such as those stored in text or ntext columns.binding
In SQL application programming interfaces (APIs), refers to associating a result set column or a parameter with a program variable so that data is moved automatically into or out of a program variable when a row is fetched or updated.bit data type
A data type that holds a value of either 1 or 0.bitwise operation
An operation that manipulates a single bit or tests whether a bit is on or off.BLOB
See binary large object (BLOB).blocks
A series of Transact-SQL statements enclosed by BEGIN and END. You can nest BEGIN...END blocks within other BEGIN...END blocks.Boolean
An operation or expression that can be evaluated only as either true or false.browse mode
A function that enables you to scan database rows and update their values one row at a time. Several browse mode functions return information that an application can use to examine the structure of a complicated ad hoc query.built-in functions
A group of predefined functions provided as part of the Transact-SQL and multidimensional expressions (MDX) languages.
bulk copy program (BCP)
A command-prompt bulk copy utility that copies SQL Server data to or from an operating system file in a user-specified format.BULK INSERT
A SQL statement to bulk copy data to a SQL Server instance within a SQL statement. The BULK INSERT command can be used from within a Transact-SQL statement.business logic
See business rules.business rules
The logical rules that are used to run a business. Business rules can be enforced in the .COM objects that make up the middle tier of a Windows DNA system. They can also be enforced in a SQL Server database by using triggers, stored procedures, and constraints.