Question

In SQL Server, is an OUTPUT parameter actually an INPUT/OUTPUT parameter? I’m assuming this since even if we specify the OUTPUT keyword for a parameter in the stored procedure definition, we are still required to supply value for this parameter when calling a stored procedure.

Answer 1

Yes, you have to provide a value for the output parameter.

For example, of you create a stored procedure like this:

CREATE PROC sales_for_type @type VARCHAR(55), @total_sales INT OUTPUT
AS
SELECT SUM(qty) FROM sales a, titles b
WHERE
a.title_id = b.title_id
and
b.type = @type

and then you call it like:

DECLARE @total_sales_business int
EXEC sales_for_type business, @total_sales=@total_sales_business OUTPUT

Check this article.