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What is SQL Server

What is SQL Server

SQL Stands for Structured Query Language. It is a relational database management system (RDBMS), developed by Microsoft.

SQL is used to communicate with a database. According to ANSI (American National Standards Institute), it is the standard language for relational database management systems.



SQL Server Architecture

It  is a very deep topic, let’s understand in sort, SQL Server Architecture has three major components:

Relational Engine : It is also known as the query processor because it determine the best way to execute a query. It requests data from the storage based on the input query and processed the results.

Storage Engine: It is responsible for create, read, and update data between the disk and memory.

SQL OS: It is a host machine lies between Windows OS and SQL Server. The SQL OS is the server application used for managing the operating system resources like buffer management, scheduling, deadlock detection, exception handling, extended events, etc.

SQL Server Versions List

Year Version Release
1989 1.0 (OS/2) SQL Server 1.0 (16-bit)
1990 1.1 (OS/2) SQL Server 1.1 (16-bit)
1992 4.2A (OS/2) SQL Server 4.2A
1993 4.2B (OS/2) SQL Server 4.2B (16-bit)
1993 4.21a (WinNT) SQL Server 4.21a
1995 6 SQL Server 6.0
1996 6.5 SQL Server 6.5
1998 7 SQL Server 7.0
1999 SQL Server 7.0 OLAP Tools
2000 8 SQL Server 2000
2003 8 SQL Server 2000 64-bit Edition
2005 9 SQL Server 2005
2008 10 SQL Server 2008
2010 10.25 Azure SQL database (initial release)
2010 10.5 SQL Server 2008 R2
2012 11 SQL Server 2012
2014 12 Azure SQL database
2014 12 SQL Server 2014
2016 13 SQL Server 2016
2017 14 SQL Server 2017
2019 15 SQL Server 2019 RC

SQL Server Commands

The SQL commands are instructions , using these commands you can communicate with the database to perform specific tasks, work, functions and queries with data.

Types of SQL Commands: (Click here to read in details)

  • DDL(Data Definition Language)
  • DML(Data Manipulation Language)
  • DQL(Data Query Language)
  • DCL(Data Control Language)
  • TCL(Transaction Control Language)




SQL Server Keys

SQL Server Keys are a single or combination of multiple fields in a table. They allow you to create a relationships between two or more tables and maintain uniqueness in a table.

Types of SQL Keys are:(Click here to read in details)

  • Primary Key
  • Candidate Key
  • Unique Key
  • Alternate Key
  • Composite/ Compound Key 
  • Foreign Key
  • Super Key





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