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# What is rowversion in SQL Server?
- URL: https://nolongerset.com/under-100-rowversion/
- Published: 2022-10-31T14:43:09.000Z
- Updated: 2026-05-08T12:53:49.000Z
- Description: The concept of SQL Server's rowversion data type explained in under 100 words. #Under100
- Author: Mike Wolfe
- Tags: Under 100, SQL Server, #Import 2026-05-20 02:59

The SQL Server [rowversion data type](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/t-sql/data-types/rowversion-transact-sql?view=sql-server-ver16) (aka, [timestamp](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/t-sql/data-types/data-type-synonyms-transact-sql?view=sql-server-ver16)) is basically a **database-wide Autonumber** field.

Any time a record in a table with a rowversion column is added or updated, the global rowversion counter is incremented at the database level and the new value is assigned to the added/updated record. It's an easy way to see if a record has changed without checking each field.

I recommend adding a rowversion field to *every* SQL Server table you link to from MS Access as it [boosts performance](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/previous-versions/sql/sql-server-2005/administrator/bb188204%28v=sql.90%29?redirectedfrom=MSDN#supporting-concurrency-checks), [helps avoid weird bugs](https://nolongerset.com/write-conflict-error-datetime2-bug/#working-around-the-error), and has [no real downsides](https://dba.stackexchange.com/a/105602/6390).