Difference between Stored Procedure and Trigger

1) We can execute a stored procedure whenever we want with the help of the exec command, but a trigger can only be executed whenever an event (insert, delete and update) is fired on the table on which the trigger is defined.


2) We can call a stored procedure from inside another stored procedure but we can't directly call another trigger within a trigger. We can only achieve nesting of triggers in which action (insert, delete and update) defined within a trigger can initiate the execution of another trigger defined on the same table or different table. 


3) Stored procedures can be scheduled through a job to execute on a predefined time, but we can't schedule a trigger.


4) Stored procedure can take the input parameters, but we can't pass the parameters as an input to a trigger.


5) Stored procedures can return values but a trigger cannot return a value.


6) We can use the Print commands inside the stored procedure to debug purpose but we can't use the print command inside a trigger.


7) We can use the transaction statements like begin transaction, commit transaction and rollback inside a stored procedure but we can't use the transaction statements inside a trigger.


8) We can call a stored procedure from front end (.asp files, .aspx files, .ascx files etc.) but we can't call a trigger from these files.