SQL Databases - MSDN Documentation

Explore the comprehensive documentation for Microsoft's SQL database technologies. This section covers Azure SQL Database, SQL Server, and related tools for building, managing, and optimizing your data solutions.

Getting Started with SQL Databases

Begin your journey with SQL databases by understanding the core concepts and capabilities. Learn how to set up, connect, and perform basic operations.

Key Concepts

Relational Database Fundamentals
Tables, Columns, and Data Types
Primary Keys and Foreign Keys
Indexes and Performance

Quickstarts

Follow these quickstart guides to deploy and configure your first SQL database:

Azure SQL Database

Azure SQL Database is a fully managed cloud database service that handles most database management functions like upgrading, patching, and backups. It offers unparalleled scalability and intelligent performance.

Features

Elastic Pools for Cost Optimization
Intelligent Query Processing
Automatic Backups and Point-in-Time Restore
Threat Detection and Advanced Security

Tutorials

Dive deeper with our interactive tutorials:

SQL Server

SQL Server is a robust on-premises relational database management system (RDBMS) that provides a comprehensive suite of tools for data storage, retrieval, and analysis. It's the foundation for many enterprise data solutions.

Editions and Features

Enterprise Edition: Full-featured for mission-critical applications.
Standard Edition: For departmental and smaller web applications.
Express Edition: Free, entry-level for development and small production applications.

Core Functionality

Understand the core components and functionalities of SQL Server:

A basic SQL query to retrieve data:

SELECT CustomerID, CompanyName, ContactName
FROM Customers
WHERE Country = 'USA';

Administration and Management

Database Tools and Technologies

Explore the ecosystem of tools that support your SQL database development and management needs.

Azure Data Studio: A cross-platform database tool for developers.
SQL Server Data Tools (SSDT): For developing SQL Server databases within Visual Studio.
Entity Framework Core: A modern object-database mapper.

Advanced Topics

Delve into more complex areas of SQL database management and development.