QUOTENAME (Transact-SQL)

Applies to: SQL Server Azure SQL Database Azure SQL Managed Instance Azure Synapse Analytics Analytics Platform System (PDW) SQL analytics endpoint in Microsoft Fabric Warehouse in Microsoft Fabric SQL database in Microsoft Fabric

Returns a Unicode string with the delimiters added to make the input string a valid SQL Server delimited identifier.

Transact-SQL syntax conventions

Syntax

QUOTENAME ( 'character_string' [ , 'quote_character' ] )

Arguments

'character_string'
Is a string of Unicode character data. character_string is sysname and is limited to 128 characters. Inputs greater than 128 characters return NULL.

'quote_character'
Is a one-character string to use as the delimiter. Can be a single quotation mark ( ' ), a left or right bracket ( [] ), a double quotation mark ( " ), a left or right parenthesis ( () ), a greater than or less than sign ( >< ), a left or right brace ( {} ) or a backtick ( ` ). NULL returns if an unacceptable character is supplied. If quote_character is not specified, brackets are used.

Return Types

nvarchar(258)

Examples

The following example takes the character string abc[]def and uses the [ and ] characters to create a valid SQL Server delimited identifier.

SELECT QUOTENAME('abc[]def');

Here's the result set.

[abc[]]def]
  
(1 row(s) affected)

Notice that the right bracket in the string abc[]def is doubled to indicate an escape character.

The following example prepares a quoted string to use in naming a column.

DECLARE @columnName NVARCHAR(255)='user''s "custom" name'
DECLARE @sql NVARCHAR(MAX) = 'SELECT FirstName AS ' + QUOTENAME(@columnName) + ' FROM dbo.DimCustomer'

EXEC sp_executesql @sql

Examples: Azure Synapse Analytics and Analytics Platform System (PDW)

The following example takes the character string abc def and uses the [ and ] characters to create a valid SQL Server delimited identifier.

SELECT QUOTENAME('abc def');

Here's the result set.

[abc def]  
  
(1 row(s) affected)

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Last updated on 2025-11-18