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Encloses a series of Transact-SQL statements so that a group of Transact-SQL statements can be executed in a logical block of code. BEGIN and END are control-of-flow language keywords.

Syntax

BEGIN
    { sql_statement | statement_block }
Arguments
{ sql_statement | statement_block }
Any valid Transact-SQL statement or statement grouping as defined by using a statement block.
Remarks
BEGIN...END blocks can be nested.
Although all Transact-SQL statements are valid within a BEGIN...END block, certain Transact-SQL statements shouldn't be grouped together within the same batch, or statement block.
Examples
In the following example, BEGIN and END define a series of Transact-SQL statements that execute together. If the BEGIN...END block isn't included, both ROLLBACK TRANSACTION statements would execute, and both PRINT messages would be returned.
USE AdventureWorks2022;
BEGIN TRANSACTION
IF @@TRANCOUNT = 0
BEGIN
    SELECT FirstName, MiddleName
    FROM Person.Person
    WHERE LastName = 'Adams';
    ROLLBACK TRANSACTION;
    PRINT N'Rolling back the transaction two times would cause an error.';
ROLLBACK TRANSACTION;
PRINT N'Rolled back the transaction.';
Examples: Azure Synapse Analytics and Analytics Platform System (PDW)
In the following example, BEGIN and END define a series of SQL statements that run together. If the BEGIN...END block isn't included, the following example runs in a continuous loop.
-- Uses AdventureWorksDW
DECLARE @Iteration INT = 0;
WHILE @Iteration < 10
BEGIN
    SELECT FirstName,
        MiddleName
    FROM dbo.DimCustomer
    WHERE LastName = 'Adams';
    SET @Iteration += 1;
Related content
ALTER TRIGGER (Transact-SQL)
Control-of-Flow Language (Transact-SQL)
CREATE TRIGGER (Transact-SQL)
END (BEGIN...END) (Transact-SQL)