T-SQL, or Transact-SQL, is Microsoft’s extension to the SQL (Structured Query Language) standard, specifically tailored for use with Microsoft SQL Server. Designed to enhance SQL’s capabilities, T-SQL incorporates procedural programming, local variables, various support functions for string processing, date processing, mathematics, and more. It’s pivotal for managing Microsoft SQL Server databases and is embedded in tools like SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) and Azure Data Studio.

T-SQL stands out by offering advanced features such as error handling, transaction control, and row processing. It enables users to write complex queries and procedures, offering mechanisms to control the execution flow of statements with conditions and loops, thus facilitating robust database administration and application development.

The origins of T-SQL date back to the late 1980s, following Microsoft’s venture into the enterprise database market with the creation of SQL Server, in partnership with Sybase SQL Server. Early versions of SQL Server were essentially the same as those of Sybase, including the T-SQL language. Over time, as Microsoft SQL Server evolved into a separate product, T-SQL grew in functionality and became Microsoft’s proprietary SQL language extension.

With the release of SQL Server 6.5 and onward, T-SQL started to significantly diverge from its Sybase counterpart, introducing unique features tailored to Microsoft’s database management system. Throughout its development, T-SQL has been continually enhanced to include support for newer SQL standards and innovations specific to Microsoft SQL Server, making it a critical tool for database administrators and developers working within the Microsoft ecosystem.

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Created 2024-02-21