Microsoft SQL Server is a relational database management system and Transact-SQL is the language that you use with it. Statements fall into groups for data definition, data manipulation and permissions. Applications connect to an instance or database and send T-SQL. SQL Server installs on Windows, Linux and Linux containers.
People say Microsoft SQL when they mean the database product or the language. Both terms name different things and mixing them causes confusion.
This guide follows Microsoft documentation and separates the product from the language.
What is Microsoft SQL Server?
Microsoft describes SQL Server as a relational database management system. Applications and tools connect to a SQL Server instance or database and communicate using Transact-SQL, also called T-SQL. See What is SQL Server.
You can install SQL Server on Windows, on Linux, in a Linux container or on a virtual machine in Azure.
What is T-SQL?
You use T-SQL to work with SQL Server. Microsoft lists three jobs for it.
- Define objects. Create tables, views, indexes, functions and stored procedures.
- Query and edit data. Open rows and modify them.
- Administer the server. Handle tasks like backups and DBCC commands.
What are the Main Groups of T-SQL Statements?
Microsoft groups statements by purpose. See the Transact-SQL statements reference.
| Group | Purpose | Statements |
|---|---|---|
| Data definition | Create, alter or drop data structures | CREATE, ALTER, DROP, TRUNCATE TABLE |
| Data manipulation | Edit the rows stored in the database | SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE, MERGE, BULK INSERT |
| Permissions | Decide which users and logins reach data | Covered in the Microsoft security center |
| Session settings | Control behavior of the current session | SET statements |
-- Create a sample table for equipment loans
CREATE TABLE dbo.Loans (LoanID INT PRIMARY KEY, Item NVARCHAR(100));
INSERT INTO dbo.Loans (LoanID, Item) VALUES (1, N'Projector');
SELECT LoanID, Item FROM dbo.Loans;Microsoft states that a SQL statement either succeeds in full or fails in full.
What Components Come With SQL Server?
Microsoft names the Database Engine as the core service for storing, processing and securing data. Microsoft also lists Integration Services for ETL, Analysis Services for analytics, Reporting Services for reports and Replication for copying data between databases.
For safe operations see SQL Server disaster recovery options. For other engines see what IBM Db2 is and what SQLite is.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Microsoft SQL Server?
Microsoft SQL Server is a relational database management system that you work with using Transact-SQL.
What is T-SQL?
T-SQL is what applications and tools send to SQL Server to define objects, query data and administer the server.
Is SQL the Same as SQL Server?
No. SQL names the query language family. SQL Server is the Microsoft product and T-SQL is its dialect.
Which Systems Work With SQL Server?
Microsoft lists Windows, Linux, Linux containers and Azure virtual machines.
What are DDL and DML?
Data definition statements create, alter or drop structures. Data manipulation statements edit the rows stored in the database.
Key Takeaways
- SQL Server names the product and T-SQL names the language.
- Applications connect to an instance or database and send T-SQL.
- Statements fall into groups for definition, manipulation, permissions and sessions.
- SQL Server installs on Windows, Linux and containers.
- Microsoft names the Database Engine as the core service.
Sources and References
This guide follows Microsoft documentation.
- What is SQL Server (Microsoft Learn) learn.microsoft.com
- Transact-SQL Statements (Microsoft Learn) learn.microsoft.com