title: SQL Server SELECT with READONLY clause
body: <p>I wanted to read some data from a table in the read-only mode.</p>
  
  <p>Having worked on DB2 earlier, I got confused and tried to use the FOR READONLY clause with my SELECT statement :P</p>
  
  <p>After tinkering with it, I realized the following statement works:</p>
  
  <pre><code>SELECT * FROM dbo.Users READONLY
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>It took less than half the time to run the query with the READONLY clause than without it.</p>
  
  <p>So I decided to google for some documentation about the same, but I couldn't find any documentation of using READONLY with the SELECT clause.</p>
  
  <p>Our DBA has asked us not to use the READONLY clause if there is no documentation, as it can get obsolete in the newer updates/ versions.</p>
  
  <p>I'd appreciate if someone can point to some useful documentation and let me know if this can be safely used in SQL Server stored procs.</p>
  
  <p>I am using SQL Server version 11.0.3000.0</p>