---
title: "What is CTE?"  
description: "What is CTE?"  
author: "Anonymous User"  
published: 2011-05-11  
updated: 2020-09-18  
canonical: https://www.mindstick.com/interview/882/what-is-cte  
category: "mssql server"  
tags: ["mssql server"]  
reading_time: 1 minute  

---

# What is CTE?

CTE is an abbreviation Common Table Expression. A Common Table Expression (CTE) is an expression that can be thought of as a temporary result set which is defined within the execution of a single SQL statement**.** A CTE is similar to a derived table in that it is not stored as an object and lasts only for the duration of the query.

## Answers

### Answer by Anonymous User

CTE is an abbreviation Common Table Expression. A Common Table Expression (CTE) is an expression that can be thought of as a temporary result set which is defined within the execution of a single SQL statement**.** A CTE is similar to a derived table in that it is not stored as an object and lasts only for the duration of the query.


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Original Source: https://www.mindstick.com/interview/882/what-is-cte

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