System Tables–Database Catalog

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.