In SQL Server, the expression FOR XML RAW in a SELECT statement tells SQL Server to do what when generating the XML result?

Introduction / Context:
SQL Server provides extensions for generating XML output directly from SELECT statements using the FOR XML clause. Different modes such as RAW, AUTO, and PATH control how rows and columns are mapped to XML elements and attributes. Understanding the behavior of each mode is important when integrating SQL Server with XML based applications and web services. This question focuses on the RAW mode and how it represents column values in the resulting XML.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The DBMS is Microsoft SQL Server.
• A SELECT statement uses the FOR XML RAW clause.
• Each row in the result set must be converted into some XML representation.
• The question asks how column values are placed in the XML document.

Concept / Approach:
In FOR XML RAW mode, SQL Server generates an XML element for each row and by default names the element row. The columns in the result set are emitted as attributes of that row element, with attribute names derived from column names and attribute values taken from column values. This differs from other modes such as FOR XML AUTO or PATH, which offer different mapping behaviors. Therefore, the key characteristic of RAW mode is that columns become attributes, not child elements.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that FOR XML RAW generates one XML element per row.Step 2: Recognize that in RAW mode, column values are represented as attributes of this element.Step 3: Option A states that column values are placed as attributes, which matches the behavior.Step 4: Option B describes columns as elements rather than attributes, which does not match RAW mode.Step 5: Option C suggests a mixed strategy, which is not the default behavior of RAW mode.

Verification / Alternative check:
You can verify this by imagining a simple query such as SELECT id, name FROM Customers FOR XML RAW. The result would include elements like <row id="1" name="Alice" /> where id and name appear as attributes of the row element. There are no separate child elements for each column in default RAW mode. This concrete example confirms that RAW mode maps columns to attributes in the XML output.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option B is incorrect because it describes an element based mapping rather than the attribute based mapping used by RAW. Some other modes or custom queries can produce elements for columns, but that is not what RAW does by default. Option C is wrong because RAW does not automatically mix elements and attributes; such behavior would need explicit query shaping in PATH mode or other custom logic. Option D is incorrect because option A accurately describes the behavior of FOR XML RAW.

Common Pitfalls:
A frequent pitfall is confusing the behavior of different FOR XML modes, especially when switching between RAW, AUTO, and PATH. Developers may expect columns to appear as child elements, only to find them as attributes, or vice versa. Another mistake is to assume that all XML generation modes support the same level of customization without additional query structure. Learning the specific characteristics of each mode helps in designing predictable XML interfaces from SQL Server.

Final Answer:
The expression FOR XML RAW tells SQL Server to Place the values of the columns as attributes in the resulting XML document, which corresponds to option A.