SQL Server database design: Best practice

Table Design Best Practices

• Avoid special characters and spaces in table names, column names, and other database object names (e.g., views, stored procedures). Stick to alphanumeric characters and underscores (_) for consistency and compatibility.
• Avoid storing binary data, such as files or images, directly in tables. Instead, use file paths or dedicated storage solutions like blob storage for better performance and manageability.
• Always define a primary key on each table. This ensures data integrity and helps with indexing and performance optimization.
• Do not use deprecated data types like NTEXT, TEXT, and IMAGE. Use NVARCHAR(MAX), VARCHAR(MAX), and VARBINARY(MAX) instead.
• Avoid using UNIQUEIDENTIFIER as a primary key unless absolutely necessary. It can lead to performance issues due to its large size and randomness, which affects index efficiency.