SQL JOIN : Technical name for table identifier

Question

When I use A.column name, B.Column name where A = Table A and B = Table B , what is the technical name for the A.Column name? Is it a prefix, identifier or what else?

Answer 1

I have always seen it called an alias.

Edit: Yeap!

Answer 2

They also call it a "Correlation Name"

http://publib.boulder.ibm.com/iseries/v5r1/ic2924/index.htm?info/db2/rbafzmstc2cornm.htm

Answer 3

I think correlation name is properly the alias used in a correlated subquery. In the query below E2 is the correlation name.

SELECT  EMPNO, LASTNAME, WORKDEPT, EDLEVEL
FROM    EMPLOYEE
WHERE   EDLEVEL >
        (SELECT AVG(E2.EDLEVEL)
        FROM    EMPLOYEE **E2**
        WHERE   E2.WORKDEPT = WORKDEPT
        )

Answer 4

From my copy of "SQL-99 Complete, Really":

A <Correlation name> (or alias) identifies a variable that ranges over some Table; that is, a variable whose only permitted values are the rows of a given Table.

So either "alias" or "correlation name" is acceptable. Though "alias" is also used for column aliases defined in the select-list, so if you use this term you should be clear about which one you mean.

Answer 5

I think the correct name is table-alias