On Transact sql language the SET statements allow you to change the current session handling of specific information like: dateformat, system language, lock timeout, rowcount.

Date and time

• SET Datefirst
• SET Dateformat

Locks

• SET Deadlock_priority
• SET Lock_timeout

Miscellaneous

• SET Concat_null_yields_null
• SET Cursor_close_on_commit
• SET Identity_insert
• SET Language

Query Execution

• SET Rowcount
• SET Noexec