What is identity column ? How to insert value in identity column ?

An Int or Number column of database can be set as Identity column then on inserting new record value for identity column is automatically generated and inserted in cell of column. We can manage what is starting value and what will be added for next value. A column can be set as identity field from column properties, important properties related to identity field are Is Identity, Identity Increment and Identity Seed. Direct SQL can also be used to set a column as identity field.

Create table Member (Id int identity(1001,1),Name nvarchar(50));

Here 1001 is identity seed (start from) and 1 is seed (step by). Identity column's. Normally we cannot insert value in a identity field, for inserting value it can be done by setting identity insert on that table on.

set Identity_Insert tableName on;

An identity field is not primary key or unique key yet it can be set as well. Only one table in session can have Identity_insert on at a time.