> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://raviram.gitbook.io/ado.net-core/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://raviram.gitbook.io/ado.net-core/concepts/database-tools-overview.md).

# Database tools overview

## Database tools overview 

### MS SQL Server

Microsoft SQL Server is chosen for business needs due to its scalability, high performance, robust security features, and support for high availability and disaster recovery. 

It offers a comprehensive Business Intelligence (BI) platform, seamless **integration with Microsoft products, powerful development tools**, and advanced analytics capabilities. SQL Server supports multiple data types, integrates with the cloud, and provides flexibility in licensing options, making it a versatile and reliable choice for organizations seeking a database management system to meet their data storage, processing, and analysis requirements.

### MS SQL Server History

<table data-header-hidden><thead><tr><th width="135"></th><th></th><th></th><th data-hidden></th><th data-hidden></th><th data-hidden></th><th data-hidden></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Product Version</td><td>Release Date</td><td>Product name</td><td>Mainstream<br>End Date</td><td>Extended<br>End Date</td><td>Code name</td><td>Internal<br>database version</td></tr><tr><td>1.0 (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OS/2">OS/2</a>)</td><td>1989</td><td>SQL Server 1.0 (16-bit)</td><td>?</td><td>?</td><td>Filipi</td><td> –</td></tr><tr><td>1.1 (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OS/2">OS/2</a>)</td><td>1990</td><td>SQL Server 1.1 (16-bit)</td><td>?</td><td>?</td><td>Pietro</td><td> –</td></tr><tr><td>4.2A (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OS/2">OS/2</a>)</td><td>1992</td><td>SQL Server 4.2A</td><td>?</td><td>?</td><td> –</td><td> –</td></tr><tr><td>4.2B (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OS/2">OS/2</a>)</td><td>1993</td><td>SQL Server 4.2B (16-bit)</td><td>?</td><td>?</td><td> –</td><td> –</td></tr><tr><td>4.21a (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_NT">WinNT</a>)</td><td>1993</td><td>SQL Server 4.21a</td><td>?</td><td>?</td><td>SQLNT</td><td> –</td></tr><tr><td>6.0</td><td>1995</td><td>SQL Server 6.0</td><td>?</td><td>?</td><td>SQL95</td><td>406</td></tr><tr><td>6.5</td><td>1996</td><td>SQL Server 6.5</td><td>?</td><td>?</td><td>Hydra</td><td>408</td></tr><tr><td>7.0</td><td>1998</td><td>SQL Server 7.0</td><td>December 31, 2005</td><td>January 11, 2011</td><td>Sphinx</td><td>515</td></tr><tr><td>—</td><td>1999</td><td>SQL Server 7.0 OLAP Tools</td><td>?</td><td>?</td><td>Plato</td><td> –</td></tr><tr><td>8.0</td><td>2000</td><td>SQL Server 2000</td><td>April 8, 2008</td><td>April 9, 2013</td><td>Shiloh</td><td>539</td></tr><tr><td>8.0</td><td>2003</td><td>SQL Server 2000 64-bit Edition</td><td>?</td><td>?</td><td>Liberty</td><td>539</td></tr><tr><td>9.0</td><td>January 14, 2006</td><td>SQL Server 2005</td><td>April 12, 2011</td><td>April 12, 2016</td><td>Yukon</td><td>611/612</td></tr><tr><td>10.0</td><td>November 6, 2008</td><td>SQL Server 2008</td><td>July 8, 2014</td><td>July 9, 2019</td><td>Katmai</td><td>655</td></tr><tr><td>10.25</td><td>2010</td><td>Azure SQL database (initial release)</td><td>?</td><td>?</td><td>Cloud database or CloudDB</td><td> –</td></tr><tr><td>10.50</td><td>July 20, 2010</td><td>SQL Server 2008 R2</td><td>July 8, 2014</td><td>July 9, 2019</td><td>Kilimanjaro (aka KJ)</td><td>661</td></tr><tr><td>11.0</td><td>May 20, 2012</td><td>SQL Server 2012</td><td>July 11, 2017</td><td>July 12, 2022</td><td>Denali</td><td>706</td></tr><tr><td>12.0</td><td>2014</td><td>Azure SQL database</td><td>?</td><td>?</td><td> –</td><td> –</td></tr><tr><td>12.0</td><td>June 5, 2014</td><td>SQL Server 2014</td><td>July 9, 2019</td><td>July 9, 2024</td><td>Hekaton</td><td>782</td></tr><tr><td>13.0</td><td>June 1, 2016</td><td>SQL Server 2016</td><td>July 13, 2021</td><td>July 14, 2026</td><td>SQL16</td><td>852</td></tr><tr><td>14.0</td><td>September 29, 2017</td><td>SQL Server 2017</td><td>October 11, 2022</td><td>October 12, 2027</td><td>Helsinki</td><td>869</td></tr><tr><td>15.0</td><td>November 4, 2019</td><td>SQL Server 2019</td><td>January 14, 2025</td><td>January 8, 2030</td><td>Seattle</td><td>895</td></tr><tr><td>16.0</td><td>November 16, 2022</td><td>SQL Server 2022</td><td>January 11, 2028</td><td>January 11, 2033</td><td>Dallas</td><td>957</td></tr></tbody></table>

### MS SQL Server Installation options

1. MS SQL Server (full) (service based)&#x20;
2. MS SQL Server (express) (service based)&#x20;
3. LocalDB (downsized Version of MS SQL Server) (file based)&#x20;

### UI options for SQL Server:

1. SSMS&#x20;
2. SQL Server Data Tools (integrated in **Visual Studio**)
3. Command line interface (CLI)