Pivot in SQL Server 2008

Definition: Pivot table is a T-SQL operator that converts one tabled-valued expression into another table.
It transforms the values of a column of a table into multiple columns producing Pivot table.Basically, It rotates the rows into columns and performs aggregation on the desired column.

Use: It is used to produce meaningful informtion from the table data easily and quickly. It converts one table format into another.It is great operator for producing summary tables. It is frequently used in Reports for the means of grouping and aggregation of Report Data.

Annotated Syntax:

SELECT
[first pivoted column] AS ,
[second pivoted column] AS ,
...
[last pivoted column] AS
FROM
(SELECT query that produces the data)
AS (alias for the source query)

PIVOT
(
(aggregation function(column being aggregated))
FOR
[column that contains the values that will become column headers]
IN ( [first pivoted column], [second pivoted column],
... [last pivoted column])
) AS
optional ORDER BY clause

Examples:

Static Pivot Table Query:

                                     

























Dynamic PIVOT Table Query: