What Is @@DEF_SORTORDER_ID Used For?

Question

I've looked through Microsoft's SQL Server site, Googled this, and even checked Stack Overflow for an answer (note on the last two, this will change within a day or so), and yet I'm not finding anything for the below SELECT query:

SELECT @@DEF_SORTORDER_ID

What/how is this used in SQL Server (2008R2; it also appears to be available in 2012 and 2005)?

Answer 1

To get the SQL sort order ID, use SERVERPROPERTY('SqlSortOrder'). The list of sort orders for ancient SQL 7.0 products is still available in places like here. Nowadays though everybody calls it 'the server collation'.

That being said, I never seen @@DEF_SORTORDER_ID before and I don't know what it is...