The following system tables are found within every user-defined or system database, including the master database:
| Table | Description |
|---|---|
| sysalternates | Contains one row for each SQL Server user mapped to a user of the current database. |
| sysarticles | Contains a row for each of the articles posted by the publication server. |
| syscolumns | Contains one row for every column in every table and view, and a row for each parameter in a stored procedure. |
| syscomments | Contains entries for each view, rule, default, trigger, and stored procedure. |
| sysconstraints | Contains one row for each PRIMARY KEY, FOREIGN KEY, CHECK, DEFAULT, and UNIQUE constraint. |
| sysdepends | Contains one row for each procedure, view, or table that is referenced by a procedure, view, or trigger. |
| sysindexes | Contains one row for each clustered index and one row for each nonclustered index. These indexes are the result of a CREATE INDEX statement or the CREATE TABLE statement with a PRIMARY KEY or UNIQUE constraint. Additionally, sysindexes contains one row for each table that has no clustered index and one row for each table that contains text or image columns. |
| syslogs | Contains the transaction log and is used by SQL Server for recovery and roll forward ¾ it is for internal use only. |
| sysobjects | Contains one row for each database object and (in tempdb only) temporary object. |
| sysprocedures | Contains entries for each view, default, rule, trigger, and stored procedure. |
| sysprotects | Contains user permissions information ¾ entries for each GRANT and REVOKE statement that has been executed. |
| syspublications | Contains a row for each of the publications posted by the publication server. |
| sysreferences | Contains one row for each FOREIGN KEY constraint. |
| syssegments | Contains one row for each segment (named collection of disk pieces). |
| syssubscriptions | Associates the IDs of each publication event with the IDs of all subscription servers expecting to receive the data. |
| systypes | Contains one row for each system-supplied and each user-defined datatype. |
| sysusers | Contains one row for each user allowed to use the database and one row for each group. |
The section that follows these tables lists all tables in alphabetical order and provides detailed information.