SQL Server Temporal Table

Temporal tables in SQL Server are a powerful feature for managing data that evolves over time. They automatically track changes to data, storing both the current and historical versions of rows. This is crucial for applications that need to analyze trends, audit changes, or support regulatory requirements. Unlike traditional methods of storing historical data, temporal tables integrate the historical data directly into the table structure, making querying and analysis significantly more efficient. They are particularly useful for tracking changes in product information, customer accounts, or financial transactions. The core benefit is that you don't need separate tables or complex joins to retrieve historical data; the temporal table itself contains the necessary information. This simplifies queries and improves performance.