Computed Columns

A column is computed from an expression

A computed column is computed from an expression that can use other columns in the same table. The expression can be a noncomputed column name, constant, function, and any combination of these connected by one or more operators.

Create table with a computed column

Create table NetProfit
(
    SalaryToEmployee            int,
    BonusDistributed            int,
    BusinessRunningCost         int,
    BusinessMaintenanceCost     int,
    BusinessEarnings            int,
    BusinessNetIncome
                As BusinessEarnings - (SalaryToEmployee          +
                                       BonusDistributed          +
                                       BusinessRunningCost       +
                                       BusinessMaintenanceCost    )

)

Value is computed and stored in the computed column automatically on inserting other values.

Insert Into NetProfit
    (SalaryToEmployee,
     BonusDistributed,
     BusinessRunningCost,
     BusinessMaintenanceCost,
     BusinessEarnings)
Values
    (1000000,
     10000,
     1000000,
     50000,
     2500000)

Simple example we normally use in log tables

CREATE TABLE [dbo].[ProcessLog](
[LogId] [int] IDENTITY(1,1) NOT NULL,
[LogType] [varchar](20) NULL,
[StartTime] [datetime] NULL,
[EndTime] [datetime] NULL,
[RunMinutes]  AS (datediff(minute,coalesce([StartTime],getdate()),coalesce([EndTime],getdate())))

This gives run difference in minutes for runtime which will be very handy..