Semantic Search in SQL Server 2025
Learn how we can search text values in SQL Server 2025 using the new AI capabilities.
2026-01-12
2,727 reads
SQL Server 2025
SQL Server 2025 Backup Compression Algorithm
Learn about the new ZSTD compression algorithm in SQL Server 2025.
2025-12-29
1,973 reads
T-SQL in SQL Server 2025: The || Operator
I have been working in various computer languages for a long time. When I saw that the || operator was coming, I was a bit confused as to why we needed this, and how it would work. After all, this is a part of other languages. I decided to dig in a bit. This is […]
2025-12-19
8,342 reads
T-SQL in SQL Server 2025: The UNISTR Function
I am not much for working in languages other than English. That's my native language and I know little about others. However, the last few years I find myself using emojis more and more in quick communications as they seem to add some fun to the interaction. And those interactions need to be stored in […]
2025-12-05
297 reads
2025-12-03
117 reads
2025-12-01
542 reads
SQL Server 2025 Build List
This is a list of the builds for SQL Server 2025. There are other build lists available here. A list of all the builds that I can find and install on my Build VM. If you find a build not listed here, please let the webmaster know (webmaster at sqlservercentral.com). All builds are listed in reverse […]
2026-02-02 (first published: 2025-11-24)
697 reads
2025-11-21
149 reads
How to Build an AI-Powered T-SQL Assistant with Python & SQL Server
If you’re a SQL Server DBA or developer looking to harness AI for your everyday scripting workflows, this article will walk you through building an AI-powered T-SQL assistant using Python and SQL Server.
2025-11-19
SQL Server 2025 has arrived!
SQL Server 2025 has been released to GA. Read about the new version in this piece by Bob Ward.
2025-11-19 (first published: 2025-11-18)
11,232 reads
Blogs
Don’t Miss Out – SQL Server Query Tuning Fundamentals Starts Next Monday!
Next Monday, February 9, 2026, my one-day live online training SQL Server Query Tuning...
Monday Monitor Tips: SQL Auditing Preview
By Steve Jones
One of the features we advocates have been advocating for is a better way...
SQL Server 2025 CU1 Fixes the Docker Desktop AVX Issue on macOS
Microsoft fixed the AVX instruction issue in SQL Server 2025 CU1. The container now...
Forums
25 Years of SQL Server Central
Comments posted to this topic are about the item 25 Years of SQL Server...
The Decoded Value
Comments posted to this topic are about the item The Decoded Value
Deploying SQL Server Developer Edition in Kubernetes: A Cost-Effective Alternative to RDS
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Deploying SQL Server Developer Edition...
Question of the Day
The Decoded Value
In SQL Server 2025, what is returned from this code:
DECLARE @message VARCHAR(50) = 'Hello SQL Server 2025!'; DECLARE @encoded VARCHAR(MAX); SET @encoded = BASE64_ENCODE(CAST(@message AS VARBINARY(1000))); SELECT BASE64_DECODE(@encoded)See possible answers