Vector search in SQL Server: VECTOR_DISTANCE, VECTOR_SEARCH, and index trade-offs
Learn how to use VECTOR_DISTANCE and VECTOR_SEARCH in SQL Server to find semantically similar data.
2026-07-17
Articles
How Clustering can be Used as a Preprocessing Technique for Classification in Azure Machine Learning
Learn about using classification as a technique to prepare your data for additional machine learning analysis.
2026-07-15
1,014 reads
Confession Time: I Never Taught You About B-Trees.
I work with databases for a living. I teach people, and I help them via consulting. And as far as I can remember, I’ve never written something about how b-trees work.
2026-07-15
It’s 2026. Why are databases still failing GDPR compliance audits?
This article examines three recurring database-layer failures documented in the EDPB’s 2026 enforcement findings: the complexity of executing erasure across relational schemas, the backup paradox that can silently undo compliant deletions, and the audit log contradiction that traps organizations between two competing obligations.
2026-07-14 (first published: 2026-07-13)
TRY_PARSE vs TRY_CONVERT in SQL Server: From Basics to Practical Usage
This article shows how the TRY_PARSE() and TRY_CONVERT() functions can be used to handle data quality issues and ensure that your software continues to function without throwing errors.
2026-07-13
3,689 reads
Understanding Deadlock Victim Selection in SQL Server
A short introduction to how deadlocks work and how you can affect their behavior inside your system.
2026-07-13 (first published: 2026-05-01)
3,025 reads
Why Your SQL Permissions Disappeared
When you change a schema owner in SQL Server, all object-level permissions vanish instantly. There is no warning. Here's how to prevent it and fix it when it happens.
2026-07-10
3,051 reads
Correct SQL Server Always On Availability Group Not Synchronizing
We had an issue with a SQL Server database in an Always On Availability Group (AOAG) where it was not synchronizing the secondary replica even though it was using the “Synchronous commit” Availability Mode for the secondary replica. This article explains how to troubleshoot and resolve:
2026-07-10
Five Intelligent Query Processing Features in SQL Server 2022 That Quietly Tune Your Workload
Learn about a few new features built into SQL Server 2022 that can help improve performance on your workload.
2026-07-08
3,401 reads
How to call an Ollama-based AI text embeddings model from SQL Server 2025
Learn how to call locally hosted Ollama embedding models from SQL Server using sp_invoke_external_rest_endpoint
2026-07-08
Blogs
The Book of Redgate: Hours
By Steve Jones
I have said and written this many times: Redgate Software is the type of...
How to Check TDE Progress and Elapsed Time in SQL Server
By SQLPals
How to Check TDE Progress and Elapsed Time in SQL Server ...
PostgreSQL Support in the Data API Builder
By Steve Jones
Next week I’m at VS Live in San Diego (register and join me) and...
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Question of the Day
Squared Values
What happens when I run this code in SQL Server 2022?
SELECT SQUARE('12') See possible answers