Summary  
This chapter covers how to use parameters in dataset configurations to dynamically define elements like table names at runtime, making dataset definitions more flexible and reusable.

General domain of usage  
Data integration pipelines

Parameters in Azure Data Factory are **dynamic elements that make pipelines, datasets, and linked services flexible and reusable**. By leveraging parameters, you can create solutions that adapt to different scenarios with minimal configuration changes. In this chapter, we'll focus on dataset parameters, particularly using them to **define the table name dynamically** for a SQL dataset.

**Dataset Parameters** enable Azure Data Factory datasets to adapt dynamically at runtime by using parameters, allowing tasks such as defining table names or file paths to be flexible and reusable.

Definition

For example, in a SQL dataset, **instead of hardcoding the table name**, you can use a parameter to set the table name at runtime. This approach is especially useful when working with multiple tables or environments.

We created a dataset with a **table name parameter** to enable dynamic table selection during data operations. By defining a parameter for the table name in a SQL dataset, you can reuse the same dataset for multiple tables, making your workflows more efficient and adaptable.  

This setup lays the foundation for the **ForEach Activity**, where we will dynamically iterate over multiple table names and perform operations on them. This approach is essential for scalable and flexible data integration pipelines.

You can also create parameters for pipelines and some other activities, but they are outside the scope of this course. Feel free to experiment and try them on your own.

Note

What is an example of a dataset parameter in a SQL dataset?

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